Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Located in Arlington National Cemetary in Washington D.C., the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a monument dedicated to all US servicemen who have fallen in battle who are known but to God. It is considered one of the highest honors to serve as a Sentinel for the graves of the Unknown Soldiers. Over 80% of soldiers who try out for this duty do not make it. The sentinels do not wear a badge of rank on their uniforms, so they do not outrank the Unknowns, whatever their rank may have been.

Walking the Mat:
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• The soldier walks 21 steps across the Tomb. This alludes to the 21-gun salute, which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.</font>
• On the 21st step, the soldier turns and faces the Tomb for 21 seconds.</font>
• The soldier then turns to face the other way across the Tomb and changes his weapon to the outside shoulder.</font>
• After 21 seconds, step 1 is repeated.</font>

The Sentinels Creed

My dedication to this sacred duty is total and wholehearted. In the responsibility bestowed on me never will I falter. And with dignity and perseverance my standard will remain perfection. Through the years of diligence and praise and the discomfort of the elements, I will walk my tour in humble reverence to the best of my ability. It is he who commands the respect I protect. His bravery that made us so proud. Surrounded by well meaning crowds by day alone in the thoughtful peace of night, this soldier will in honored glory rest under my eternal vigilance.

 

Are they all Marines or do other services participate ?

 

Actually, it is only the army.

 

Nice one Col. H.

 

I saw the stripe down the pants and thought it was a Marine dress uniform.
Thank you for the information.

 

The Army Blues is the dress uniform shown. Similiar to the Marines but difference is the hat. White for Marines, blue for Army

 

I'm bringing this thread back thanks to PzJgr!! Thanks for the thread on the Airforce troops in bad weather!

This is an email I got from a friend recently, I don't vouch for the accuracy here, I haven't researched it at all. It's long but worth the read!

ARLINGTON CEMETERY - Jeopardy Question


On Jeopardy the other night, the final question was How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns ---- All three missed it --

This is really an awesome sight to watch if you've never had the chance,
Very fascinating. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier



1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why?
21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.

2. 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

3. Why are his gloves wet?
His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.

4. 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.

5 How often are the guards changed?
Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.

6. 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 E. Lewis {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 service person.

The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.

 

Great update! When was this monument inaugurated?

 

This is what I found Skipper! (Tomb of The Unknown Soldier History 1963)

On the morning of November 11, 1921, Armistice Day, at 8 :30 A.M., the casket was removed from the rotunda of the Capitol and escorted to the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery under a military escort, with general officers of the Army and Admirals of the Navy for pallbearers, and noncommissioned officers of the Navy and Marine Corps for body bearers. Following the caisson bearing the flag-draped casket walked such a concourse as had never before followed a soldier to his final resting place-The President of the United States, the Vice-President, Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, wearers of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Senators, Members of Congress, the Generals of the Armies of World War I, and former Wars, and other distinguished Army, Navy and Marine Corps officers, Veterans of World War I, and former Wars, State officials and representatives of patriotic organizations. Solemnly through streets lined with thousands gathered to pay homage to those who died on the field of battle the procession moved on to historic Arlington. Upon arrival at the Amphitheater the casket was borne through the south entrance to the apse where it was reverently placed upon the catafalque. During the processional the vast audience both within and without the Amphitheater stood uncovered. A simple but impressive funeral ceremony was conducted which included an address by the President of the United States who conferred upon the Unknown Soldier the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross. Following this ceremony special representatives of foreign governments associated with the United States in World War I each in turn conferred upon the Unknown the highest military decoration of their Nation.
At the conclusion of these ceremonies the remains, preceded by the clergy, the President and Mrs. Harding and others seated in the apse, were borne to the sarcophagus where a brief committal service was held. With three salvos of artillery, the sounding of taps and the National Salute, the impressive ceremonies were brought to a close.

 

Thanks Bigfun! This is the one in Paris La tombe du Soldat inconnu - Paris - Eternal Flames on Waymarking.com it's a fallen Verdun soldier who rests under the Arc de Triomphe which initially was built for Napoleon's grave.
Beneath the Arc de Triomphe is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from the First World War. Interred here on Armistice Day 1920, it was the first eternal flame lit in Western Europe since the Vestal Virgins' fire was extinguished in the year 391.

It burns in memory of the dead who were never identified, now in both World Wars. A ceremony is held there every November 11 on the anniversary of the armistice signed between France and Germany in 1918. It was originally decided in November 12, 1919 to bury the unknown soldier's remains in the Panthéon, but a public letter-writing campaign led to the decision to bury him beneath the Arc. The coffin was put in the chapel on the first floor of the Arc on November 10, 1920, and put in its final resting place on January 28, 1921. The slab on top carries the inscription ICI REPOSE UN SOLDAT FRANÇAIS MORT POUR LA PATRIE 1914–1918 ("Here lies a French soldier who died for his fatherland 1914–1918").
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy of the United States paid their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, accompanied by French President Charles de Gaulle. After the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, Mrs. Kennedy remembered the eternal flame at the Arc de Triomphe and requested that an eternal flame be placed next to her husband's grave at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. President de Gaulle went to Washington to attend the state funeral, and he was able to witness Jacqueline Kennedy lighting the eternal flame that was inspired by her visit to France.

 

Very nice Skipper, thanks!!

 

more about the perpetual vestal fires Vestal Virgin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Iv seen the ceremony i enjoyed it. i dont think ur allowed to take pics of it.

 

By the way, I said earlier that I was not sure about all the rules for the soldiers on this duty. After researching this, they are all accurate.

 

Actually if ya wana get technical The tomb Sentinels are All members of the 1st Battlion, 3rd infantry Regment "THE OLD GUARD" out of Fort Myers VA... I was Tdy at the pentagon last summer and Saw arlington and met some of the Sentinels.. very strack looking soldiers... And the army dress blues isnt similar at all to marine dress blues LOL if ya want ill post pics of the differences.... the marine Dress bluess have a mandarin style collar the army has a conventional suit coat collar with a white dress shirt and black tie.. I have a set of dress blues LOL AND never refer to a tomb sentinal as a marine... its insulting... Theyre soldiers and very proud to be... ALso the drinking and the Barracks below the tomb is a myth, I drank with a tomb sentinal at the Nco club at fort myers when i was invited

 

Some nice details Mortman, I didn't know about the drinking myth.

 

I saw the changing of the guard when I was in Arlington Cemetery a few weeks ago. Very impressive.

 

Those senteninels WILL NEVER leave theyre posts if they have any say in it