Polaris Tartan

[highlander_Daz]

I can only add that in the UK, its appropriate to wear the medals of a deceased relitive at formal occasions, and you sometimes see widows/children wear in Glangarries/tams etc, On rememberance sunday I wear Gordon Tartan because of family connections to the Gordon Highlanders -Ive never served in the Gordon Highlanders (Im not old enough!!!) but many veterans have come and said how nice it is to see the Gordon Tartan still being worn, Ive never had a veteran challange me becasue I never served with the Gordons. (and im not called Gordon).

how about writing to the commanding officer? or charman of an association ?for a yay or nay?

In my mind honouring ones family, especially one who have served in the military is something that really should be encourged, especially by young people.

[macwilkin]

I believe that the Polaris tartan is also the offical tartan of the US Naval Academy's Pipe Band:

http://www.usna.edu/Pipes/

I wonder what those gentlemen that Matt mentioned would say about Mids wearing it? -- Not being a smartaleck there, just curious.

My own personal thoughts: considering that the Government Sett (Black Watch) & other military tartans are being worn by many people who never served in the RHR, I really don't see a problem with someone wearing it to honour his father's service. As Daz mentioned, in the UK and in Australia, children, grandchildren, etc. often wear medals, glengarries, etc. of their relatives on Remembrance Day, ANZAC Day, etc. is a way to honour their service -- although I must point out when wearing medals, they are worn on the right lapel to distinguish that they are being worn by family members. A friend of mine who is ex-RAN and a member of the Returned Services League in Queensland first told me about this, and I saw it firsthand when he sent me a tape of the Brisbane ANZAC Day parade.

As long as you are not wearing a USN uniform to impersonate a member of that branch, I personally see nothing wrong with it. However, Matt's suggestion about the Edzell tartan might be a better choice.

I'll ask my priest what he thinks about it -- He served at Holy Loch, the US submarine base in Scotland where the Polaris tartan was designed. ;)

On a related note, almost every ex-serviceman I have talked to whilst doing reenacting/living history has loved the idea of "young folks" taking an interest in their service so much as to "re-create" it -- as long as it is done with reverence and respect. My grandfather, who served in the CBI theatre in WWII (may he rest in peace), loved the idea of living history as a way to tell people about history.

Cheers,

Todd

[KiltedKnight]

Speaking for myself and being retired from the U.S. Army for 15 years now it is my opinion that the wearing of a service related tartan should be looked on as flattery. I would feel a bit of pride seeing someone wearing and aware of the tartan dedicated to a branch of the armed forces. The only things that I would be very offended with would be seeing someone wearing ribbons or medals or especially the CIB without being entitled to it.

Chris.

[auld argonian]

Re Todd's comments about wearing medals as a tribute to your forebearers; for some time I wore my dad's wings from the WWII Army Air Corps on the lapel of a sport coat as a homage to him (he's still around...don't get me wrong). When he took off for a reunion in Holland I bought him a new leather flight jacket and a set of cloissone badges for the USAAF and the 8th Army Air Force to wear on it. I felt that I had to give him the wings back for this event and I hope that the remembers to pass them on to me when he takes off...

Best

AA

[Richland]

I'm with Kilted knight on this one. Wear it proudly. It is quite an offense to wear awards not earned. If you are trying to pass yourself off as an awarde'.
clearly this is not the case.

[Mike n NC]

First and foremost, good luck. The Polaris tatran in no longer a production tartan and must be special ordered. At least it was last year when I checked into it. It was avalible but at about $85 USD per yard or more.

As a retired bubblehead I won't say not to wear it but I would look on it as a not so good thing. Sorta like a non-qual wearing a set of dolphins. Since the Submarine community has always been the elite of the fleet (all others are only targets), we are justly jealous of anything that pertains to us or the service. Military tartans are a sticky spot. Some will encourage you to wear them, some just don't care and some will be dead set against it. One of the organizations I belong to (SubVets) is completely against anyone else wearing it.

Go ahead and try it, the worst that may happen is some submariner with an attitude may wear it home.

Mike

[macwilkin]

First and foremost, good luck. The Polaris tatran in no longer a production tartan and must be special ordered. At least it was last year when I checked into it. It was avalible but at about $85 USD per yard or more.

As a retired bubblehead I won't say not to wear it but I would look on it as a not so good thing. Sorta like a non-qual wearing a set of dolphins. Since the Submarine community has always been the elite of the fleet (all others are only targets), we are justly jealous of anything that pertains to us or the service. Military tartans are a sticky spot. Some will encourage you to wear them, some just don't care and some will be dead set against it. One of the organizations I belong to (SubVets) is completely against anyone else wearing it.

Go ahead and try it, the worst that may happen is some submariner with an attitude may wear it home.

Mike

Mike,

Has your organization adopted the Polaris tartan then as an "offical" tartan? Does the tartan have any "official" status, apart from the USNA Pipes & Drums? What does Subvets think about the Mids wearing it?

Not trying to disagree here; just curious.

Regards,

Todd

[Richland]

Go ahead and try it, the worst that may happen is some submariner with an attitude may wear it home.

Mike[/QUOTE]

Na, Navy feeds sub guys too well it will never fit on one of them!

[Pleater]

My brother has worn our Dad's medals - correctly, as family, on the right.

I only recently found out Dad's squardon was No 247 - they were often sharing airfields with American squadrons in England and France in WWII - he was sometimes called in as a problem solver for aircraft with gremlins.

He was always amazed at the ingeneous ways things could actually be assembled and yet still be wrong, or what people would do automatically when starting work and not undo when they wanted the plane to fly again - like isolating the magneto.

[Riverkilt]

Not sure if this is helpful. My father served in the RAF and the Army Air Corps in War 2. He was at Dieppe and Kasserine Pass. Shot down at the later and got a close look at the Afrika Corps. His brother, my uncle, was a combat infantryman across France and Germany and was with the first company in to liberate Dachau. (Just before he died I asked him about rumors the American G.I.s had shot all the Germans they found at Dachau. He said, "Only the Gestapo.")

I have a replica RAF Flying Sgt's battle jacket that I wear with my kilts in my father's honor.

I have a replica B-13 Army Air Corps officer's Ike jacket that I wear with my kilts in my father's honor.

I have an enlisted Ike Jacket that I wear with my kilts in my uncle's honor.

I have had my father's fighter squadron and fighter group insignia reproduced (actually, the later was never produced) and have worn them on my Utilikilt pockets in his honor. I also took them to his fighter group reunion last year and gave/shared them with some of the surviving original members of the unit and second generation family of those that are already gone.

As old as I am, I don't think anyone will mistake me for a War 2 vet, but the point is its okay to honor your father's service. Hopefully, any sub vets would understand the intent - or that you'd get a fair chance to explain if challenged.

Ron