Horne urges Mesa district, other schools, to allow grads to wear military regalia

Says students should be honored for service

PHOENIX - High school graduates who want to wear military regalia as part of their graduation ceremonies should be allowed to do so, says state schools chief Tom Horne.

Horne is responding to reports that the Mesa Unified School District has a policy barring graduates from displaying military service stoles. A Mesa High School student, Daniela Rascon-Rivas, has drawn attention to the issue since she is being prohibited from wearing the added regalia. 

Horne said, "This country owes its existence to the bravery of people willing to fight for our freedoms. Miss Rascon-Rivas has done a tremendous amount of extra work to prepare for service in the Arizona National Guard, which she will join after she graduates. This goes above and beyond the efforts required to graduate high school and deserves praise and recognition. I respectfully urge the Mesa district and all schools throughout the state to join students and their families in recognizing their hard work to prepare for military service."

He added, "This is clearly not a matter of students trying to show off or distract from the importance of the ceremony. Graduation is one of the most meaningful events in a young person’s life and schools should acknowledge when students show the initiative to excel and serve our nation."