Memorial Day

I stole these 2 pics from Dad's Facebook page. This is why Memorial Day means so much to the Dill/Sullivan/Leal Families.
As a member of a gold star family, the sister of an officer in the United States Navy, daughter of a Vietnam Veteran and the step-sister of a recruit headed off to Marine Corps boot camp in August, I take Memorial Day very seriously. I truly appreciate the sacrifices our military men and women make for us. So, the Wednesday before Memorial Day weekend, I was out at the cemetary collecting dates and information for Jordan's family tree project. While I was there, I noticed a group of teenage boys and a few adults putting flags on the graves of the military men and women buried there. This just really touched my heart. To see these young kids doing this, meant that they get it. They understand what this weekend is about. Fast forward to Saturday, Mom called me with news that has once again touched my heart, but not for a good reason. Two young men had graduated mid-term from North Montgomery high school, they went off to Marine Corps boot camp, graduated from boot camp last week and came home for their high school graduation this weekend. They were not allowed to wear their dress blues to receive their diplomas. They were allowed to wear the uniform to stand up with the color guard, but had to change into their cap and gowns if they wanted to walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. One changed, one didn't. The boy that didn't was simply skipped over as they were calling the names of the graduates. After the last name was called, someone yelled "Let the Marine walk" and the entire gym stood up and starting clapping for a good 2 minutes, but the administration ignored this. This included entire class of 2010 who were on their feet clapping for this kid to be able to walk across the stage and receive his diploma. Wasn't this supposed to be their day? Shouldn't they have a say in the matter? I can't even imagine being the parent of this boy. I would be so proud of my son for standing up for what he believes in, but I would be furious at the administration. As an AMERICAN, I AM MAD! These two boys have traded dorm rooms and parties for boot camp and barracks. They have chosen to become American Soldiers and fight for our rights as American citizens. And yet they weren't even given the right to wear the uniform they earned the right to wear. Of all weekends for this to happen-Memorial Day weekend. What a slap in the face to our military members, past and present. And this whole time, I can't help but think Trevor would have done the same thing. He couldn't wait to go to the school in that uniform that he worked so hard to earn. There is no way he would have traded that uniform for a cap and gown. High school did not make him a man, the United States Marine Corps made him a man! I have spent most of this weekend being mad. My heart aches that these boys were treated this way in their own hometown, by their own school. The blatant disrespect from the North Montgomery school corporation sickens me. I knew I had to do something to calm myself down, so I visited my own special marine this morning and thanked him for his service to our country. He may not haven gotten to be a marine for long, but for the time that he had, he loved it. The Marine Corps changed his life. The first time we saw him at his marine corps graduation, was something I will never forget. The boy with the baggy pants and slouched shoulders that left for boot camp, was nothing like this man that stood tall and proud before us. He was a Marine! That memory will stay with me forever. And I think is partly why I am so upset this weekend. So, the North Mont. school corporation may not be supportive of these two young marines, but they have touched my heart and I have a feeling they have touched many hearts this weekend. Thank you Forrest Crawford and Kyle McKinney! Semper Fi!