MARSHALL, Mich. - Marshall High School Principal Scott Hutchins apologized publicly on Monday to two Marines who he had chided because they wore their dress uniforms rather than caps and gowns to graduation.
"As the proud son of a veteran of the Vietnam War, I have the utmost respect for all military personnel and family members that sacrifice right along with their soldiers, and I am extremely thankful for their service, sacrifice, and dedication to our country," Hutchins said during the Board of Education's work session.
"I deeply regret that my actions have been misrepresented on social media, my attempt at making this a teachable moment with two students that graduated from Marine Boot Camp clearly was not successful.
On June 3, Hutchins pulled aside Pfc. Willie Couch and Pfc. Samuel Hackworth and, believing it was a teachable moment for the two young men, first thanked them for their service and dedication to our country, but then told them 'I do not feel you acted honorably today by not following our rules," according to a statement released Superintendent Randy Davis on June 4.
Hutchins's comments and the comments of a school board member who congratulated the two Marines, but added "I am disappointed" later circulated through social media and online and print news outlets. Davis did not identify the board member on Monday.
"It was never my intent to offend or upset anyone or to do something that may have tarnished the memory of an amazing commencement ceremony, and I am sorry for any distress I have caused these two young men and their families," Hutchins said on Monday. "In a private conversation initiated by me after the commencement ceremony, I thanked both students for their service and dedication to our country and reminded them that honor is a core value of the Marine Corps, and shared with them why I felt their actions were not honorable when they chose not to follow our rules.
"I have never referred to any member of our Armed Forces as dishonorable or said that they brought dishonor to their branch of the military, because I understand the implications of that word to our brave men and women that serve."
Marine spokesman 1st Lt. William Tunney said last week that the Marines do not have an official position on the interaction.
Well before the commencement ceremony, school officials told the Marines that no exceptions would be made to the policy requiring graduates to wear a cap and gown, Davis said last week, though Hutchins offered to provide red-white-and-blue cords that the Marines could wear over their shoulders, similar to honors graduates, Davis said.
The district also offered to list their names in the graduation roster and program with a special notation for being Marines and to have a school official mention their rank when their names were called for their diplomas, Davis said.
Davis said the families declined. Hutchins still arranged for all three options to be in place in case the Marines changed their minds, he said.
Contact Battle Creek Enquirer reporter Noe Hernandez at 269-966-0684 or nhernandez@battlecreekenquirer.com.
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