Re: your June 13 article, "Two alternative schools hold a combined commencement":

The article mentions there were 175 graduating students, with 106 participating in the ceremony. There should have been 107 attending. A Marine was at the graduation, but not allowed to walk with his class. This was a bittersweet moment for our family. Ray Paladino worked diligently to complete his high school requirements at Conejo Valley High School by the end of January so he could enter the boot camp session for Alpha Company in March. This would allow him to walk with his graduation class in June during his short leave after boot camp.

When the graduation ceremony started, I watched the procession of students, and Ray was absent. I sent a text message to him asking his where he was, as I did not see him. He sent one back stating he was not allowed to walk because he had missed graduation practice. He had worked so hard to orchestrate the events and the dates, there must have been some mistake.

While an award presentation was being given at the podium, I walked up to Jim Martin, the principal, and asked him what had happened. He first asked me to leave as my presence on the podium was not appropriate, adding it would be handled later.

I could only reply, "Mr. Martin, there is no later,' this is it."

He mechanically explained the school policy about missing graduation practice and that many kids had been denied the opportunity to walk in the graduation because they were sick, on vacation or were just lazy.

I then reminded him that boot camp is not a vacation and we were not dealing with a slacker, we're talking about a U.S. Marine, that his denial was a disgrace to this young man's hard work, as well as a disgrace to the honor of our countrymen.

He again asked me to leave, stating I could talk with him after the graduation."

With tears in my eyes, I quietly uttered to him, "You should either rethink this, or be ashamed of yourself," as I pointed to Ray standing off to the side, in his dress uniform, away from his class.

To our pleasant surprise, just prior to the announcement of the graduates, Mr. Martin did specifically acknowledge Ray's accomplishment and his graduation, while he stood on the side in quiet dignity at the recognition.

Thank you, Mr. Martin, with all my heart, for the change in yours that day.

Ray left a few days later to go back to Camp Pendleton, then to Oklahoma for additional weapons training and eventually to Afghanistan. During Ray's upcoming leave between Oklahoma and Afghanistan in September, we will celebrate Ray's 18th birthday.

Ray's accomplishments belong to him and he holds them in his heart, without need of cap and gown. I think he looked more handsome in the dress uniform, anyway.

— Nance Paladino lives in Thousand Oaks.