BRENTWOOD, Calif. — A California school superintendent is apologizing to an Army reservist who was not allowed to wear his uniform to his graduation ceremony.


The East Bay Times reports Liberty High School instructed student Harland Fletcher to wear a cap and gown over his Army uniform at Friday's ceremony. The school allegedly told the student he could not participate in the ceremony if he did not follow the dress code, and Fletcher decided to sit it out.

According to the report, as a student who completed basic training, Fletcher had the right to wear his Army uniform at the graduation. Superintendent Eric Volta issued a statement on Saturday in which he apologized to Fletcher and his family for the error.

"It has become clear that Harland Fletcher may have the right to wear his US Army Dress Uniform at his graduation and on behalf of the Liberty Union High School District I publicly apologize to him and his family for this Incident," Volta said in a report from   KTVU.

Fletcher's father, Bill Fletcher, told KTVU he is "tired of service members and vets being quietly and systematically denied rights by establishments that should know, respect and abide by the laws enacted on all of our behalf."

Fletcher, a private first class, was expected to pick up his diploma on Monday.

Ashley Bunch contributed to this report. 

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