Student Asked To Change Out of Fallen Soldier Memorial T-Shirt by School

A principal sent an 8th grade student home this week for wearing a shirt supporting US troops.

Fox 12 reported that school officials weren’t commenting on the suspension.

Alan Homes was told to either switch shirts or face an in-school suspension for wearing a T-shirt that depicted a “Battlefield Cross” that included a rifle, boots and a helmet. This was something that the principal didn’t approve of and issued an ultimatum to the student.

Alan spoke with KATU News about being suspended from school for wearing the patriotic t-shirt. “I didn’t see anything wrong with that shirt…”

While out of school, for an unspecified amount of time, Alan says he plans to do an in-depth research project on the fallen soldier memorial.

Holmes said he chose to leave school instead. If the situation can’t be resolved an administrator may also call a student’s parents. The district’s policy on dress code and personal hygiene prohibits clothing “with obscene, profane, alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug and/or violence related references”.

“Weapons on a shirt are not appropriate in a school setting”, Vadnais said in an email.

All of this notwithstanding, Alan says the image on his military t-shirt isn’t violent and isn’t meant to promote any such thing. Connie recently picked up more shirts for the whole family. He said he remembers the day he returned from Iraq and how happy it made him that he arrived back safely.

The Holmes family says they’ve received an outpouring of support from veterans groups online.