Military-bound seniors at Wisconsin high school briefly banned from wearing special cords

As Brylan Weisensel approached the end of his senior year at Plymouth Comprehensive High School, he didn’t expect to wear any cords at graduation this Sunday.

When members of the local American Legion post’s auxiliary sent him a red, white and blue cord to honor Weisensel’s post-grad plans for the Navy, he was touched. Weisensel is one of a handful of students at the Sheboygan County school going into military service after graduation.

But then, he learned from another classmate that their principal had said the students couldn’t wear the cap cords to graduation because they weren’t part of a school-sponsored group or activity.

So Weisensel took to Facebook, writing a public post explaining the situation: “Some of my classmates with plans to serve have decided they are going to say screw it and wear the cord anyway. Part of me wants to as well.

“But it also seems a little bit like we’re asking for attention or trying to make a scene if we do that,” he wrote, “which I find to be sort of against how we should be representing our branches and those who are currently serving, have served, or plan to serve.”

Instead, he would wear the cord in all of his graduation pictures as a way of respecting the auxiliary’s “wonderful gift.”

His post, and those of a classmate, soon gained traction, shared by dozens. In the comments, people objected to the school’s decision. Some said it disrespected the Legion and veterans. Others said the school should be proud of the students’ enlistments.

“We just thought it would be something really nice to do for them,” Linda Wieck, the auxiliary’s vice president, said of the situation. “I didn’t think it would come up with negative publicity after we thought we had this all settled.”

After feedback poured in from students, parents and other community members, Plymouth High Principal Jennifer Rauscher reversed the original decision. Seniors who are entering the military will now be allowed to wear the red, white and blue cords at graduation.

“We’re certainly excited for kids, no matter what they’re doing after high school,” Rauscher said. “It made sense to take another look.”

It’s a practice Rauscher said the school will continue in future years.

The students will also, as per past practice, be recognized in the printed graduation program.

Rauscher said that of the feedback she received, no one suggested the school administration was limiting students’ free expression. “It was more a question of, 'Hey, this is important to us,' ” she said.

The students received individual calls from Rauscher on Monday evening, informing them of the policy change.

“I think it’s absolutely awesome that the office changed their decision,” Weisensel said. “Their response showed me that they really were just following old rules but realize that sometimes those rules need to be changed.”

On Facebook, he took a more jubilant tone. “THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!” he wrote.