marine recruit_o.jpg

Trevor Fuller wearing the red sash given to him by his Marines recruiter.

A Middletown Area High School graduate who plans to join the Marines has already won his first battle.

Trevor Fuller signed a contract to enlist for six years with the Marines, said his mother, Angie Long. Fuller's Marine Corps recruiter, Sgt. Kenneth Sainvil, gave him a red sash to wear with at his graduation on May 26 to signify his commitment to the military.

But when Fuller lined up for the procession, Middletown High Assistant Principal Brett Myers told him that he was not allowed to wear the sash because he needed to "dress appropriately," Long said. She said two other students were also forbidden from wearing such sashes, or cords.

School district officials said Thursday that the district will make changes to permit such sashes in the future.

School District superintendent Lori A. Suski explained that while the district "does not have a policy regarding graduation regalia, the administrative procedure that has been historically followed is that only school-issued regalia is worn at commencement." Such items include National Honors Society Cords and medals for the valedictorian and salutatorian, Suski said.

Suski says that if Fuller had approached school officials before the ceremony, "there would have been an opportunity to discuss the situation" and possibly allow him to wear the non-school-issued sash.

Moving forward, Suski says that the school intends to buy red, white, and blue cords for students who have committed to military service.

"It was never the district's intent to upset any student or parent," Suski said. "The district appreciates and is proud of the students who intend to enlist."

She noted that Fuller and other students who had committed to the military were recognized in the printed program and during the commencement proceedings.

Middletown 2016 High School graduation 31 Gallery: Middletown 2016 High School graduation

Long, who was disappointed that her son and other students were not allowed to wear the military regalia at last week's ceremony, was pleased to hear about the school's response.

"I'm ecstatic at their response and the fact that they are doing what they said they would do [and buy military cords]," Long said. "I'm ecstatic that they came to that conclusion."

A representative from the local Marines recruiting office acknowledged the right of area high schools to dictate graduation dress codes.

"We recognize that there are policies in place which outline graduation dress codes," Cpl. Matthew S. Myers, Marketing and Public Affairs Director at the USMC recruiting station said in an email on Wednesday, June 1. "As high school graduations recognize the accomplishments of the class and the class's final chapter at that institution, the decision on what individuals are allowed to wear during graduation is at the discretion of the school."

This article was edited at 12:40 pm to include Angie Long's reaction to Suski's statement.