Polaris Tartan

[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

[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.

[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!

[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

[kiltimabar]

If I were going to wear a forbear's medals or other insignia, I would get his picture (preferably in the uniform) on one of those pin-on buttons with a caption "In Memorium" and wear it with them, just to make it clear why I was wearing them and in whose honor. It would make it clear that you were not an imposter, and would give an even more personal tribute.

[macwilkin]

If I were going to wear a forbear's medals or other insignia, I would get his picture (preferably in the uniform) on one of those pin-on buttons with a caption "In Memorium" and wear it with them, just to make it clear why I was wearing them and in whose honor. It would make it clear that you were not an imposter, and would give an even more personal tribute.

Hence why in Commonwealth nations, the medals are worn on the right lapel of the wearer's jacket, etc., to distinguish them as descendants/relatives of the ex-servicemen.

I don't think anyone would accuse any of the young children wearing their grandad's 1939-1945 Star in the ANZAC Day parades as "imposters".

Regards,

Todd

[Mike n NC]

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

Since the tartan was the brainchild of, designed by and brought into being by the Submarine community at the Holy Loch Sub Base, then home of the forward depoyed "boomer" subs, it has pretty much always been considered Submarine property. As far as claiming ownership, no I don't believe that SubVets does though it is turning up in increasing numbers at the annual Submarine Ball(s).
As far as the USNA Pipes and Drums, mixed feelings. Some are proud that the Polaris tartan was chosen, some not. Personally I see it as a salute to the Sub Service. It is also the only tartan that is specificly Navy since the Edzell tartan incorperates colors from the other branches of service.
One thing that you must understand about Midshipmen. They are held in absolute contempt by most of the fleet, treated as one would treat a spoiled, ill tempered child but they put on a good show for the Navy.
I did meet one, and only one, that I considered worthy of my respect. During an extended deployment, with a time onboard waiver from the CO, this third class middie qualified Submarines in just at two months. (the first class middies barely qualified their assigned watch stations) I sat his qual board so I know that he didn't get it blown off, the man worked his butt off for it and I hope he later joined "the service".

Hope that helped Todd.

Mike

Edit: And going with the idea of wearing what you want, all that I would ask of someone in a Polaris kilt is that it be worn with pride and much respect as deserved by those that go to sea on ships that are designed to sink. For those unfamiliar with "the service", google the history of submarines in WWII.

[fhpdo]

Thanks for all your input guys, I am glad I asked about this. I was only thing of having the kilt made in the Polaris tartan to honor my father's Navy service. He is still alive but not quite sure about the kilt thing (even though the Scottish line is on his side). I just thought that I could not only pay respects to him but perhaps get him in some small way involved in the kilt wearing lifestyle. I will look again at the other Navy tartan , I didn't like it as much as the Polaris tartan, because it was specifically sunmarine related, but I absolutely would not want to offend anyone. My father served on the "Amberjack" by the way, I still have his dolphins but would never consider wearing them they are momentos only and will some day be displayed with pictures of him in uniform and his uniform patches.
Thanks again guys
John

[macwilkin]

Since the tartan was the brainchild of, designed by and brought into being by the Submarine community at the Holy Loch Sub Base, then home of the forward depoyed "boomer" subs, it has pretty much always been considered Submarine property. As far as claiming ownership, no I don't believe that SubVets does though it is turning up in increasing numbers at the annual Submarine Ball(s).
As far as the USNA Pipes and Drums, mixed feelings. Some are proud that the Polaris tartan was chosen, some not. Personally I see it as a salute to the Sub Service. It is also the only tartan that is specificly Navy since the Edzell tartan incorperates colors from the other branches of service.
One thing that you must understand about Midshipmen. They are held in absolute contempt by most of the fleet, treated as one would treat a spoiled, ill tempered child but they put on a good show for the Navy.
I did meet one, and only one, that I considered worthy of my respect. During an extended deployment, with a time onboard waiver from the CO, this third class middie qualified Submarines in just at two months. (the first class middies barely qualified their assigned watch stations) I sat his qual board so I know that he didn't get it blown off, the man worked his butt off for it and I hope he later joined "the service".

Hope that helped Todd.

Mike

Edit: And going with the idea of wearing what you want, all that I would ask of someone in a Polaris kilt is that it be worn with pride and much respect as deserved by those that go to sea on ships that are designed to sink. For those unfamiliar with "the service", google the history of submarines in WWII.

Thanks, Mike. That does clear things up. I'll most certainly discuss this with the Padre tomorrow at mass and see what his thoughts are.

Cheers,

Todd