U.S. Marine had his chance to be in commencement

Regarding Mrs. Kadium's letter about graduation at Conejo Valley High School, Mrs. Kadium is only partially accurate ("Rules should have been bent so U.S. serviceman could accept his diploma," June 26 T.O. Acorn.)

The U.S. Marine, Ray Paladino, had been home over a week and in fact had come to school to visit teachers the week prior to graduation.

Our registrar spoke with him at graduation and asked why he had missed practice, and he said he had no ride and his mother was too busy to bring him.

Students who do not attend practice do not participate in the ceremony. He, in fact, didn't complain at all because he knew the rule. The assistant principal mentioned him from the podium, and that was beyond the normal procedures. James Martin Thousand Oaks Martin was the principal of Conejo Valley High School.