~ Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier
~
How many steps
does the guard
take
during his walk
across the
tomb of the
Unknowns?
21 steps.
It alludes to
the twenty-one
gun salute,
which is the
highest honor
given any
military or
foreign
dignitary.
~*~
How long does he
hesitate after
his about face
to begin his
return walk and
why?
21 seconds for
the same reason
as answer number
1
~*~
Why are his
gloves wet?
His gloves are
moistened to
prevent his
losing his grip
on the
rifle.
~*~
Does he carry
his rifle on the
same shoulder
all the time
and if not, why
not?
He carries the
rifle on the
shoulder away
from the tomb.
After his march
across the path,
he executes an
about face
and moves the
rifle to the
outside
shoulder.
~*~
How often are
the guards
changed?
Guards are
changed every
thirty minutes,
twenty-four
hours a day, 365
days a year.
~*~
What are the
physical traits
of the guard
limited to?
For a person to
apply for guard
duty at the
tomb, he must be
between 5' 10"
and 6' 2" tall
and his waist
size cannot
exceed 30."
Other
requirements of
the Guard:
They must commit
2 years of life
to guard the
tomb, live in a
barracks under
the tomb, and
cannot drink any
alcohol on
or off duty for
the rest of
their lives.
They cannot
swear in public
for the rest of
their lives and
cannot disgrace
the uniform
{fighting} or
the tomb in any
way. After two
years, the guard
is given a
wreath pin that
is worn on their
lapel signifying
they served as
guard of the
tomb. There are
only 400
presently worn.
The guard must
obey these rules
for the rest of
their
lives or give up
the wreath pin.
The shoes are
specially made
with very thick
soles to keep
the heat and
cold from their
feet. There are
metal heel
plates that
extend to the
top of the shoe
in order to make
the loud click
as they come to
a halt.
There are no
wrinkles, folds
or lint on the
uniform. Guards
dress for duty
in front of a
full-length
mirror.
The first six
months of duty a
guard cannot
talk to anyone,
nor watch TV.
All off duty
time is spent
studying the 175
notable people
laid to rest in
Arlington
National
Cemetery. A
guard must
memorize who
they are and
where they are
interred. Among
the notables
are: President
Taft, Joe Louis,
the boxer, and
Medal of Honor
winner Audie
Murphy, the most
decorated
soldier of WWII
of Hollywood
fame.
Every guard
spends five
hours a day
getting his
uniforms ready
for
guard duty.
ETERNAL REST
GRANT THEM O
LORD, AND LET
PERPETUAL LIGHT
SHINE UPON THEM.
In
2003 as
Hurricane
Isabelle was
approaching
Washington, DC,
our
US Senate/House
took 2 days off
with
anticipation of
the storm. On
the ABC
evening news, it
was reported
that because of
the dangers from
the
hurricane, the
military members
assigned the
duty of guarding
the Tomb of
the Unknown
Soldier were
given permission
to suspend the
assignment. They
respectfully
declined the
offer, "No way,
Sir!" Soaked to
the skin,
marching in the
pelting rain of
a tropical
storm, they said
that guarding
the Tomb was not
just an
assignment, it
was the highest
honor that can
be afforded to a
serviceperson.
The tomb has
been patrolled
continuously,
24/7, since
1930.
We can be very
proud
of our young men
and women in the
service no
matter where
they serve.
God Bless and
keep them.
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