Secret Service prohibited graduating Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy from wearing ceremonial swords to their ceremony out of concern for the President’s safety-Fiction! not part of the uniform!
Summary of eRumor:
A forwarded email that says that the graduating Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis were not permitted to wear ceremonial swords as part of their uniform by the Secret Service as a safety concern for President Obama.
The Truth:
President Barack Obama delivered the commencement address at the 2009 graduation ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis but the Public Affairs Office at the academy told TruthorFiction.com that swords are not, nor have ever been worn by Midshipmen at graduation.
According to a May 21, 2009 Washington Times article, Midshipmen were told in writing that swords along with anything that could be considered a weapon by security screeners should not be taken into the graduation ceremony area. Click for article.
Traditionally, Midshipmen are not required to have swords as part of their normal uniform unless they are Brigade Officers, and then they are issued temporary swords for parades and other ceremonial events. Officers may wear the sword for special ceremonial events such as change of commands and weddings.
The Public Affairs Office added, “Many parents give swords to graduates to be worn with their officer uniform after commissioning, but they along with many other items are routinely banned from being carried into the graduation ceremony for obvious security reasons.”
The USNA Network, an academy parents group, posted information and guidelines on swords on their website: Click for sword guidelines.
updated 06/10/09