A graduation dispute is drawing growing attention after a Fertile-Beltrami High School senior was told he could not wear an Army National Guard sash during commencement.
Senior Beau Durand says he wanted to wear the sash to honor his commitment to military service. Now, the American Legion Department of Minnesota is backing the student and urging the district to reconsider. The Minnesota American Legion released the following statement –
The American Legion in Minnesota gives its full support to Fertile-Beltrami High School senior Beau Durand to wear an Army National Guard sash at graduation.
Wearing a National Guard sash at graduation is a meaningful way to recognize military service, commitment and sacrifice. It symbolizes honor, leadership and dedication not only to education, but also to service to country and community.
Perhaps the Fertile-Beltrami School District leaders are unaware of Minnesota Statute 190.001, which encourages the state — and school governments are children of the state — to honor military service “in recognition of the necessity of maintaining a strong military force for the protection and survival of this state and nation and of free and democratic allied societies throughout the world.”
In Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, the U.S. Supreme Court in 1969 held that the First Amendment protects a public-school student’s speech so long as the speech does not “materially and substantially” disrupt the school’s operation and discipline and does not collide with the rights of other students.
In that case, students wore black armbands in class to protest the Vietnam War. If the law allows students to protest wars in school, surely it can allow students to show support for the military. These graduates entering the military made a brave and honorable decision to put their young lives on the line.
The U.S. armed forces have done such an amazing job of national defense — one of the pillars of The American Legion — that it is sad when we see cases like this, when the civilian population no longer realizes the dangers of the world we live in and takes that protection for granted.
Legionnaires unequivocally support Durand wearing the sash during graduation. This is America, not a police state. Wearing it will not disrupt graduation. We argue that the school district’s denial has done more to disrupt school proceedings than simply allowing it would have done.
At graduation ceremonies nationwide, it has become commonplace to see some students wearing sashes or stoles or putting messages on their mortarboards. It hasn’t been the end of the world. The school districts allowing individualism at their commencement ceremonies are doing fine. We hope Fertile-Beltrami comes around.
American Legion Spokesman Tim Engstrom says Minnesota law supports recognizing military service and argues wearing the sash falls within the student’s First Amendment rights. “The school can adopt a public school student’s speech so long as it doesn’t materially and substantially disrupt the school’s operation or collide with the rights of other students,” said Engstrom. “So it seems like allowing kids to wear a sash saying that they’re entering the National Guard would seem to be within their First Amendment rights.”
KROX reached out to Fertile-Beltrami Superintendent Brian Clark and he gave the following statement –
Data privacy laws prevent me and other School District staff and Board members from commenting publicly about student-specific issues. As a general matter, however, all graduating seniors and their families receive information about the School District’s expectations related to commencement activities. As a school-sponsored ceremony, the School District has historically regulated the program’s content and participating students’ dress. As outlined in the Student Handbook, approved graduation clothing, which has traditionally reflected school colors, includes the official cap, gown, sash, and tassel. Other permitted regalia is restricted to a National Honor Society Cord or a High Honor Roll Medal, both of which are associated with school-related academic distinctions. These limitations reasonably reflect the School District’s goals to advance decorum, tradition, and a sense of unity among past and future graduates. The School District encourages all graduates to showcase their personal achievements or interests in the Senior Spotlight and Slideshow.
Durand says he still plans to wear the sash during Sunday’s graduation ceremony.
