A Day Like No Other
It was supposed to be a day like no other. The boy was going to look back on his graduation with pride, or so he thought. But he hadn’t told anyone else that he had already been warned not to bring it.
From the moment that he walked onto the stage, he was already doomed.
The principal had a keen eye, and after suspecting it, he couldn’t let him get away with it.
A Disappointed Look
The name-calling began as each student who graduated was called onto the stage and given their diploma. It was a ritual that was decades old. But Jason had no idea that he was going to be denied that right.
The principal called each student alphabetically.
A few of Jason’s friends proudly walked forward when their name was called, but then they got to the letter R.
No Redding
The letter “R” was now being called out. If Ramsay was called to the stage, then it would have been him. But the crushing disappointment he felt when the next name was Silverton. This couldn’t be right, could it?
He heard a few people from the crowd behind him stir, noticing that he hadn’t been called either.
Was it a mistake?
Looking Around
Jason looked around, puzzled more than anything. Other than his parents and some of his friends, no one seemed to notice that he had been left out. He then made the mistake of looking at his principal.
The principal locked eyes with him. This was his opportunity to make things right. But mouthed the words, “I warned you.” Jason felt his heart drop.
He wasn’t serious, was he?
A Warning
Jason’s mind had gone back to a week prior. He remembered walking into the principal’s office and mentioning what he was going to do. He remembered explaining that he would wear something different from the other students.
The principal’s eyes went wide in shock. He warned him not to wear it, or there would be consequences.
Jason should have taken him seriously.
Picking Him Out
The principal had a sinister smile on his face. It was a look of “I told you so.” But there was a question on everybody’s mind. Why had the principal gone so far as to revoke Jason’s diploma?
Jason Redding’s dreams seemed to be getting in the way of his graduation. But it was the principal who was making sure that was a reality.
All he wanted to do was serve his country.
Dreams
Ever since Jason was a young boy, he dreamed of graduating from high school, but not for the same reason as most children his age. He wanted to join his country’s army just like his dad did before him.
Jason knew he’d have to work hard in order to achieve his dreams. Years later, he made sure to complete his studies ahead of his peers.
But that wasn’t enough.
Racing Home
After finishing his work ahead of his fellow students, he was quick to join the Marines. He went to training camp, where he passed with flying colors. He had just enough time to race home to get to his graduation.
Everyone there was waiting for him. His friends and his family.
They were proud of him, but things wouldn’t go the way he wanted.
His Uniform
When Jason got home, he looked like a different person. He walked a certain way like he oozed confidence. It helped that he was wearing his Marine Corps uniform.
He told them that he was going to wear it to the graduation ceremony. No one batted an eye, thinking that it would be allowed.
But Jason didn’t tell them what the principal had said.
The Day Came
Jason puffed out his chest as his friends and family as they made their way to the high school. He had worked hard to earn his diploma, and now he’d finally get it. He didn’t think anything could go wrong.
He felt overwhelming support from his teachers and friends. Everyone was so proud of him.
Everyone was finally in position, but Jason was about to be heartbroken.
Excited Students
But it was the reaction to what Jason decided to wear to the ceremony that, for some, would push things way too far.
The principal of Crown Point High School, Chip Pettit, took the stage and tapped on his mic.
Fumbling through his notes, he began his opening speech to a sea of enthusiastic young faces.
Roll Call
Then, he began to call out names in alphabetical order. But it wouldn’t be long before students and parents alike would be recoiling in shock.
When Mr. Pettit reached the R’s, Kathy squeezed Jason’s hand and beamed up at him.
He took a last look at the acceptance speech he’d prepared and practiced until it was perfect.
False Start
Stepping forward, he readied himself to walk up to the stage. But just as Mr. Pettit reached his last name on the list, he paused.
Searching for and picking Jason out in the crowd, Mr. Pettit’s eyes met his, and he smugly shot him a look.
Then, he moved on to the next name on the list without reading Jason’s.
Spite
Jason’s face fell for a moment in disbelief, and the crowd went quiet. Surely this was a mistake? Why had Jason’s name been omitted?
Jason’s face fell.
He knew he had defied the principal that very afternoon, but he never expected Mr. Pettit to publicly humiliate him like this.
Singled Out
The way he saw it, he had just been standing up for his rights. Why did his school have such a problem with what he was wearing?
Why had he been singled out like this?
After putting his life on the line to serve his country, this was how he was treated.
Full Blues
And what infuriated Kathy the most was that she looked around and noticed that there were other students who were violating the graduation dress code, too. And yet, their names had still been called. Did Mr. Pettit have a problem with her son?
“It was a disgrace,” Kathy later said in an interview.
“There was one student who wore shorts and gym shoes, and another student who wore a red turban symbolizing his religious views.”
Outrage
Jason had shown up to the ceremony wearing his full-dress blue Marine Corps uniform. But, to be fair, there was nothing in the Crown Point Community School Corp. bylaws that addressed whether U.S. military uniforms could be worn at graduation. Everyone was outraged. But nobody expected Jason’s story to reach such high places.
The situation was “absolutely ridiculous,” said Leann Tustison, a peer of Jason’s. “He’s in the military putting his life on the line for us.
It’s unacceptable that he was not allowed to walk across the stage.”
Solidarity
“The students were outraged,” she added. “There were some students who were going to walk in solidarity with Jake.”
And the backlash didn’t stop there.
Christal Hernandez, who heard about the story, took to Facebook: “It amazes me that all through life, people are always telling you to be proud that you’re different, celebrate your uniqueness, yet at one of the most memorable events in your life, an administrator makes the decision to completely destroy your accomplishments,” she wrote.
Backlash
“SHAME ON YOU, CPHS & CHIP PETTIT!” But Mr. Pettit had more than the ire of the community to contend with. Soon, the House Education Committee had heard the story, too.
“I sent Mr. Pettit a letter today,” one angry Facebook user wrote.
“I know of people who are pulling all financial support of CPHS and their programs over this. If that were my son, I would have escorted him across the stage.”
Pulling Funds
But what did Mr. Pettit have to say?
Well, according to him, Jason had been warned.
When Jason participated in his Crown Point High School senior class graduation rehearsal earlier that day, Mr. Pettit informed him that he wouldn’t be allowed to wear his uniform to the ceremony.
Nixed
And, to Jason’s shock, the principal was true to his word. So, when he arrived at his graduation ceremony in his uniform, his name was struck off the program. But, in the wake of an unbelievable amount of backlash, does Mr. Pettit regret it?
Although Mr. Pettit has received a ton of hate online, he insists that he was only enforcing school policy and stands by what he did.
He argued that Jason could have instead worn a military stole or cord over a gown and been recognized during the graduation ceremony.
Defending His Position
“This tradition is not intended to be disrespectful to students, parents, or our community, but as a source of pride for our students,” Mr. Pettit told NBC Chicago.
But no amount of defense would make him less of a hypocrite in the public’s eyes…
To add insult to injury, another school in the Crown Point area called Hobart High School had a similar situation that had also been widely publicized — but for a very different reason.
Insult To Injury
A graduate named Ana Kritikos had also enlisted in the Marine Corps, and, like Jason, she had graduated early so she could enlist. She was permitted to wear her military uniform during commencement ceremonies.
When Ana returned for her graduation ceremony, she expressed her desire to wear her military uniform to the high school administrators.
And, in sharp contrast to Jason’s story, she said that she received their full support.
Allowed
“They have been absolutely amazing. It is OK with the Marines for us to wear our uniforms at a high school graduation,” Ana said. “I know the School Board, the principal, and the superintendent talked about it and were in agreement that I could wear my Marine uniform.”
So, couldn’t Principal Pettit have held his tongue and done the same?
Unlike Crown Point and their now wildly unpopular principal, Peggy Buffington, Hobart High School Superintendent, said that her school tries to go out of its way to recognize military graduates.
Recognizing Military Graduates
“We recognize audience members and future military in our graduates by having them stand. It is always a very special and patriotic moment where the audience roars with applause,” Peggy revealed.
“This year was especially nice because Ana Kritikos graduated midterm and landed just in time for the graduation ceremony.”
“We did recognize her and the achievements she has made in the Marines already,” Peggy continued. “She is a Private 1st Class Military Occupation Specialist. She is currently serving in Virginia in their specialist class involved with intelligence and started her training in January. We are extremely proud of her accomplishments.”
Proud Of Her Accomplishments
However, according to a US Marine Corps spokesman, the military does not get involved with graduation dress codes. “The Marine Corps does not dictate what specific high schoolers can or cannot graduate in,” Marine Corps Major Clark Carpenter stated. “That decision is up to school leadership.” But it may not be up to the school leaders for long.
State Rep. Mike Aylesworth was appalled when he read about Jason being barred from his own graduation.
And he agreed with all the backlash the school was receiving. He even added some of his own.
Challenging The Rules
“What happened I found not appropriate,” Mike, a Vietnam-era veteran, said. “I just think people who are willing to put themselves in harm’s way should have the option to wear a uniform at graduation.”
And his comment won more than just support.
State Rep. Mike Aylesworth won committee approval for a bill mandating that school districts allow students already serving in the military to wear their dress uniform instead of the traditional graduation apparel.
A New Bill
“It’s a hodgepodge of local school board regulations all over the state,” Mike said.
“I just want to make it consistent all over the state.”
“Most school corporations in the state do the right thing and don’t need a law for guidance, but there’s evidently a couple of school corporations that need help,” said Mike, obviously referring to Mr. Pettit and Crown Point High School.
Do The Right Thing
“We should be encouraging young people who want to put their life on the line for our country to go through graduation and walk up on the stage in their uniform,” Mike added.
Wheeler Redding, Jason’s father, refused to comment on the incident at the school, but he did say that he would support legislation to enforce a uniform standard across the state.
“I would support it wholeheartedly,” he said. But what does Jason say?
Support
“I don’t want the social media controversy that is drawing attention away from the Class of 2017,” he said in an interview. “I also do not want to make any additional statements and wish to put this all behind me so I can start my career in the Marine Corps.”
Jason had his head high. He would achieve his dream no matter what his principal had tried to do.
He would move on from this and look to the horizon.