An Illinois high school has come under fire after officials refused to let a graduate, who is also a U.S. Marine, walk across the stage Thursday in her blues.

Marine Corps Pvt. Megan Howerton technically finished up her studies at McHenry West High School early in order to start her career as a Marine, WLS-TV reported. But when she returned to the school to join her classmates at graduation, she wasn’t allowed to walk with her class.

"Megan has always been very determined to do what's right, and I think she felt that the military was a calling for her," Grace Rodriguez, McHenry West graduate, told WLS-TV.

The school said its decision to refuse Howerton to walk for graduation because she wore her blues instead of the traditional cap and gown.

"The district and administration in no way looked to prevent the participation of this graduate or any graduate who has chosen to serve our nation,” the school said in a statement. "Rather, the administration communicated in advance via letter, senior meeting, and practice, all the protocols expected of graduates, including attire. In some past cases, active-duty students elected to wear their gowns over top of their military uniforms, with their military hats, which was allowed.

“There was no communication to the administration that attire protocols would not be followed prior to the ceremony. The tradition of cap and gown regalia is aimed at the idea that our graduates are celebrated as a whole and in similar attire.”

According to the Northwest Herald, Howerton said in a statement released by the Corps that she was informed of the district’s policy.

"I do not want the controversy that is saturating social media, and I do not want to draw attention away from the class of 2016," Howerton stated. "That being said, it was my choice not to participate in the graduation."

Nellie Weiss, a former student at McHenry West, told that the school starts its day by “pledging allegiance, and when a student does pledge allegiance to her country wearing her dress blues she was just shot down.”

Cole Petty, a student at the school, defended the school’s decision not to left Howerton walk.

"Rules are rules, but just because she's in the military doesn't mean you can break them. The Marines stand for rules and order, so she should follow those rules and order since she's fighting for them,” he said.

Sgt. Trevon Peracca, the marketing and public affairs representative for Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Chicago said in a statement to the Northwest Herald that the Corps recognized there are guidelines for graduation dress code.

"As high school graduations recognize the academic accomplishments of the class and the class's final chapter at that institution, the decision to allow individuals to wear uniforms during graduations is at the discretion of the school," Peracca said

Colin Brennan, an active-duty Marine and McHenry West class of 2014 graduate, said in a letter posted on the school district’s website that his dress code was the cap and gown because it wasn’t a military event.

"It is unfair to the district to be looked at so negatively by the entire community for following a rule," Brennan said.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/05/22/illinois-high-school-refuses-to-let-marine-walk-for-graduation-over-dress-code.html

Rules are rules, but just because she's in the military doesn't mean you can break them. The Marines stand for rules and order, so she should follow those rules and order since she's fighting for them,” he said.

I agree with the school. Rules are rules. It was her's & EVERYONE else's graduation. Civilian life/activity.
She will have plenty of time to be proud in uniform on military time & her own time, not on the schools time.

I agree. It sounds as though almost everyone involved handled things logically and correctly.

Except perhaps for the news people chattering about it. It's not possible to tell from this excerpted report, how it was or is being presented.

All in all, since all the participants ARE in agreement that the right decisions and choices were made, there should not have been any reports about the situation at all.

Any idea who started the fuss, and why? That is not in this report.

has she seen combat? if not, just having joined is not reason to bypass rules on graduation dress code


if she saw combat,, I may see an argument to treat her special

has she seen combat? if not, just having joined is not reason to bypass rules on graduation dress code


if she saw combat,, I may see an argument to treat her special

All in all, since all the participants ARE in agreement that the right decisions and choices were made, there should not have been any reports about the situation at all.

I was thinking that myself.
And wondering what is really going on here...if anything?

What next? Everybody where what they want, when they want, where ever they are?

Ach.. No

Who cares if she saw combat. She passed one the toughest boot camps in the world. That is something to be damn proud of.

I wonder if that school has an ROTC program? If so they are required to wear their uniforms to class at least once a week, most school's daily.

According to this, she chose to wear the uniform, 45min prior.
And when she was told 'no', social media turned it into an issue with .... A hashtag.
It does not appear she made this an issue. She just chose to not walk in a graduation gown.


McHenry Community High School District 156 posted a statement on its website Friday after several social media posts in community groups expressed outrage on behalf Howerton, some using the hashtag #letmeganwalk.



In its statement, the district said that in the past, active-duty military students had been allowed to wear their graduation gowns on top of their military uniforms with their military hats.

According to Marine regulations, however, "No part of a prescribed uniform, except those items not exclusively military in character, will be worn with civilian clothing."

Sgt. Trevon Peracca, the marketing and public affairs representative for Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Chicago, in a statement said the Corps is proud to have Howerton amongst its ranks and appreciative that she feels proud to wear the uniform. He also said the Corps recognized that there are policies in place that outline graduation dress codes.

http://www.nwherald.com/2016/05/20/controversy-flares-over-mchenry-west-high-school-marine-graduates-attire/ahxuwpi/

Semper Fi!

i see it a few different ways... first off, the graduation is for the students, no one else... it's their day to shine, they made it, they won... so whatever they want to wear, they earned the right... the US Marines is an honor to be part of, in any fashion or light... the school should understood this, and allowed her to dress in her pride, and to the respect for the thousands of other marines that lost their lives in the service of our country...

rules are rules is the bottom line tho...

So your saying our military members don't count unless they see combat? They are not "REAL" soldiers unless they have taken a life, or been in a fire fight?

For every active soldier on the ground fighting, there are over 100 support soldiers who helped get that soldier to be in the fight.

More liberal logic right here folks.