Mac Hamlin 'Psyched' to Don Dress Blues for Hudson High School Graduation

Mac Hamlin worked hard to meet all the requirements to earn his Hudson High diploma a full semester early, and graduate from Marine Corps Basic Training last week.

This week he’s back in town and will wear his dress blues on Saturday during the Class of 2013’s commencement ceremony.

“I never wanted all the attention,” Hamlin told Patch this week. “I’m not sure what it will be like on Saturday. … I never wanted to draw attention to myself, but I achieved this and it means a lot to me to be able to wear my dress blues.”

After finishing high school early, Hamlin requested that he be allowed to wear his Marine Corps dress uniform during the graduation ceremony. Citing a long-standing commencement dress code policy, his request was initially denied.

Media attention sparked a community discussion, and earlier this year the Hudson School District Board of Education approved a new high school graduation dress-code policy requiring all seniors who wish to participate in the graduation ceremony to wear the traditional cap and gown—with the exception of students who wish to wear their U.S. military dress uniform.

“It’s like a feeding frenzy when you get letters at bootcamp,” Hamlin said. “When I got the letters from my dad, my girlfriend and my other friends saying I was going to be able to wear my dress blues at graduation, I was psyched. … I got the letters, and read them all twice. I was so excited. It made me feel so good.”

Hamlin has completed boot camp last week, and he is an active member of the U.S. Marine Corps. He is home until Tuesday, when he heads off to Camp Pendleton for infantry training.

Since shipping out to boot camp, Hamlin said life has been somewhat surreal.

“It’s hard to explain,” he said. “It’s like a whirlwind, but it’s not overwhelming. I am having a lot of fun. It’s surreal, but I’ve experienced every second of it. Everything happens so fast. I’ve taken the next step in my career, and all my high school friends are still here. … I see how I’ve changed. It’s different coming home after talking to no one but Marines and recruits for the last three months.”

While he’s home, Hamlin said he plans on “sleeping and eating for three days straight,” working out to make sure he stays in shape, and spending as much time as he can with his girlfriend and family.