It only takes a few rotten apples to spoil the whole bushel. And it only takes a few military impostors to cause people to second-guess the crisp uniforms, shiny medals, and impeccably polished officer's shoes on an old friend or classmate.

Thanks to a growing black market of military accoutrements, it isn't too hard for someone to pass him or herself as a member of the military. Since 2006, California has successfully prosecuted five men who have adorned themselves with purchased, not earned, regalia.

One of the convicted, Steven Douglas Burton, began his ill-fated stint as a faux Marine on the night of make-believe itself: Halloween. He claims he liked the way he felt in uniform, and continued to wear his costume, which he bought online, to all sorts of events. When he arrived at his 20-year high school reunion as a man of valor, his classmates were in disbelief. Apparently, Mr. Burton was not voted "most likely to become a war hero."

A former classmate and actual member of the military, a Navy commander, was suspicious and asked for a photo with Burton. He handed the photo over to the FBI, which confirmed that the man beside the commander was no veteran.

Turns out it's illegal to misrepresent yourself as military, and Burton faces up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. When I was a kid, I used to wear a jacket of my dad's that he'd adorned with old patches from his years as a Navy lieutenant. By the time I was 13, I'd outgrown my fascination with things I hadn't earned. It's a shame some people take a little longer.

[Image: Steven Douglas Burton from Sphere.com]