PA DeMolay - Beware the Swiss Admiral

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	Beware the Swiss Admiral "Dad" Brent Richards, Deputy Executive Officer
	As an Advisor, you might want to model and share these ideas and hints with your Chapter members to help them keep up the most professional and high class appearance when wearing DeMolay regalia and awards.
	Back when I was an advisor to a college fraternity, there was a "penalty" call known as a "double-letter foul" -it was called when a fraternity member wore their fraternity's Greek letters (I Tippa Kau, for instance) more than once in the same outfit. To do so, tradition held, made one a show-off, tacky, and a fair target for minor physical violence. In DeMolay, there is a long-standing terminology that corresponds with this "foul." Its been around for a long time, but perhaps its time for a revival of the concept… We're very glad that Pennsylvania DeMolays are proud of their honors and awards. We're glad you earn them, and we're glad you wear them. I think we all know, though (or most of us do) that there's such a thing as too much of a good thing. The old expression goes, when someone has overdone the regalia thing, that *"he looks like a Swiss Admiral."* There are a number of risks inherent in the "Swiss Admiral" look. (1.) It can seriously disrupt your balance and cause unexpected falls; (2.) It can create long delays at airport security gates; (3.) With that many pinholes in your jacket, you'll eventually have perforated "tearaway" panels; (4.) It creates a significant lightning hazard at outdoor degrees; (5.) It greatly increases your risk of back injury while standing up after prayers ("Lift with your legs, not with your back!"); (6.) It places you at risk of severe ridicule at the hands of merciless "editorial writers."	Why a Swiss Admiral? This title is a gag… if you don't understand why it's funny, go find "Admiral" in a dictionary and "Switzerland" on a map!

		Get it? No ocean? No Navy? No Admirals!

		Genuine Swiss Admirals at a DeMolay function ... we did NOT* stage this photo! Just FYI, these are not PA DeMolay members.*
	In order to avoid these and other ill effects, here's some regalia advice: 1. *Don't try to wear every award* you've earned at the same time. Some people choose only to wear their highest honors, or the ones that mean most to them. Some choose which regalia to wear based on the occasion (PMC jewel to an installation, Chev. Cords to a Chev. Conferral, etc.). Others just pick and choose based on their mood. 2. *Don't wear more than one piece of regalia for the same award or honor… if you are wearing a PSMC jewel, you don't need a PSMC lapel pin and tie tack, too. 3. Don't wear regalia with casual clothes! It's a coat and tie thing, folks. 4. "Neckwear"* - Don't wear more than one piece of regalia around your neck … Chev. Cords or an RD medal, for instance. 5. Merit Bars-Don't wear more than one award of the same name… when you earn a second "Ritual" bar, for example, replace the old one, don't just add the new one on. 6. *Lapel pins-a single lapel pin, on the left lapel, is enough. Don't wear one on each side or multiple pins on the same lapel. Same goes for tie tacks* -one per customer! If your lapel has a buttonhole, the lapel pin should be worn in the buttonhole. 7. *Medals and other awards-wear one at a time… don't wear them in rows. A medal should be worn on the left side of the coat pinned to the breast pocket, or at that level if there is no pocket. Medals should not be pinned to lapels. 8. The official DeMolay emblem* (the 3D one with rubies and pearls) is technically not a lapel pin. It is to be worn on the shirt, over the heart. 9. A good general rule to avoid going overboard is to wear a *maximum of one of each type of regalia at a time: one cordon or medallion, one lapel pin, one medal or merit collection. Well chosen and properly worn regalia communicates pride and class. Wear it right, wear it with pride, and when you see a Swiss Admiral, don't forget to salute!*

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