I read in the May 27 Sun Journal the tragic story of a family whose deceased son’s high school diploma will not be handed out to his sister on graduation night. Instead, school officials plan to award it to the young man’s family in a private ceremony. This callous decision gives the impression that the school is ashamed of this student because he died and would like to erase the fact that he ever existed. I am appalled by this action. Omitting this young man, who earned enough credits to graduate, from the roster of this year’s graduating class dishonors his memory and his family’s pride in his accomplishments.

Including him in the ceremony would be the school’s way of saying, “This young man’s life, though tragically brief, meant something.” I am also appalled by the fact that his mother’s efforts to get help from her state representative, the state’s attorney general, Pine Tree Legal Assistance and Gov. Baldacci have been to no avail. What are they there for if not to serve the needs of Maine citizens?

I have two ideas about how the young man’s family and friends could deal with the situation if it goes as planned. One, the other seniors and their parents could boycott the graduation ceremony altogether. Two, they could go to the ceremony but when the graduates’ names are called, no one would go up to the podium. Instead, they would remain seated and say nothing. Sometimes the loudest message is silence.

Laura Starbird, Auburn

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