My Pops was a Leatherneck, Can I wear a USMC Kilt?

[KFCarter]

Here's a different thought, similar to Jock's post:
My father served in the US Navy. I did not. Because I honor and respect his (and others') service, I will not wear the US Navy tartan, because I didn't earn it. It's a handsome tartan which I really admire, but it's one that won't be in my closet. I'd feel like an impostor in it, because I did not sacrifice 4 years of my life to the service of my country.

If one chooses to wear a military tartan to honor someone else, then I applaud him and the one he's honoring. I'll honor military service by refraining from wearing the tartan. In the end, we're both honoring our fathers' service to something greater than themselves.

I completely understand this. I run up against the same feeling every time I think about wearing the US Army tartan in honor of my Dad. I believe that refraining is the right answer for me, too... but I've got no quarrel for those who make a different decision.

[The Guy in the Kilt at UC]

You'll get a lot of 'wear what you like' responses here. I would feel weird wearing an AF tartan though I wish to honor both my grandfather & g. grandfather who were officers. I'd rather join up I suppose.

[george7]

I honor my heritage by wearing our family tartans.

[Inchessi]

In my opinion you should wear it with pride. Pride for your father as well as pride for the USMC. I'm willing to bet that for every chap that takes offense you'll find dozens of marines and ex-marines that will approve. Make sure to buy those folks a drink!

For the record, it's "Former Marine" ex is a wife.

[dfmacliam]

For the record, it's "Former Marine" ex is a wife.

LOL.... we were always taught... "Once a Marine..,Always a Marine... there are no ex's or formers.."

[sanddog28]

I honor my heritage by wearing our family tartans.

From what I witnessed while in the USAF being in Joint Service units and going through Tech schools with Marines I have seen very few people act as much like family as Marines, and would think that the mention of honoring your father would sit pretty well with the majority of Marines you will encounter.

[morrison]

Any person can do anything he or she wants, with or without reason. However, in reasonable thought, any person ought to think FIRST. Go on and wear what clothing YOU want to wear. As for official and unofficial claim to display or wear a specific tartan, I agree with Ron in deference to his opinion here:

My Pops was a fighter pilot for the Royal Air Force. I wasn't. Before I ordered the R.A.F. tartan material for a kilt I spoke with Arthur Mackie, the man who designed the tartan and controls its sale. He thought it was wonderful to honor my father's service by wearing the R.A.F. tartan.
There would seem to be a parallel for the unofficial Leatherneck tartan. While I had a brief stint as a cold warrior I wear the Leatherneck tartan to honor my late little brother's service rather than my own.
Seems to me that as long as a tartan is unofficial anyone can wear it for whatever reason. Its pretty hard to be thought of as a poser if the tartan itself is unofficial.
Key is that your heart is in the right place.
Ron

[Strings]

Although it wasn't an issue of tartan, a friend went through something similar with his skodie (vest bikers wear, also called colors).

His father had served in a particular unit in Vietnam. Stenz found a patch from that unit, and wore it on his skodie to honor his father (sound familiar?). Another member of that unit saw it, and asked him about it: when it was explained, the guy bought Stenz a drink.

Now, the plural of "anecdote" isn't "data", but it seems to be an accepted practice here in the States to wear certain military symbols to honor family. To me, the tartan would be one of those "acceptable symbols"...

[Bog Trotter]

To answer Swampthing, the answer is no. Although the Black Watch is the official tartan of the regiment, you do not have to be in the British army to wear the government sett tartan. Some out there might argue with me on this but, the BWT is also identified as a universal tartan. Many pipe banks wear the BWT, and others wear it because they have no clan tartan or connection. (Mileage may vary)

[macwilkin]

To answer Swampthing, the answer is no. Although the Black Watch is the official tartan of the regiment, you do not have to be in the British army to wear the government sett tartan. Some out there might argue with me on this but, the BWT is also identified as a universal tartan. Many pipe banks wear the BWT, and others wear it because they have no clan tartan or connection. (Mileage may vary)

Remember though, that the term "universal" in this instance refers to something else, namely the effort by the British Government to see all of the Scottish Regiments adopt a "universal" tartan. When Lowland Regiments were issued the Government Sett during the late 1800s, for example, many an old Lowland soldier referred to the tartan as the "MacChilders tartan", in reference to Secretary of State for War H.C.E. Childers, who authorised the issuing of tartan to said Lowlanders.

So whilst the tartan is a de facto universal tartan today, originally, the term referred to military-issue.

Source: http://www.scottishmilitaryarticles....le_tartans.htm
(from the old Scottish Military Historical Society, now defunct.)

Regards,

Tpdd