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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Posts >> Tomb of the Unknown
        
(Message started by: athos on Aug 5^th, 2004, 10:58am)

Title: Tomb of the Unknown
Post by athos on Aug 5^th, 2004, 10:58am

If you have been to the tomb, you know the total reverence and respect that fills the air, and I think this tells of the true dedication to those who guard the tomb. Very Impressive!!

This must take a special kind of person.

1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the Tomb of the Unknowns and why?

Twenty-one 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 two 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 his lapel signifying he 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.

For 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.

I don't know if you saw this in the news but it really impressed me.

Funny, our US Senate/House took 2 days off, as they couldn't work because of the expected storm.

On the ABC evening news, it was reported that night that, because of the dangers from Hurricane Isabelle approaching Washington DC, 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.

I don't usually suggest that many emails be forwarded, but I'd be EXTREMELY proud if this one reached as many as possible. We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.

God Bless them.

Title: Re: Tomb of the Unknown
Post by ShariRae on Aug 5^th, 2004, 11:02am

Well said
Shari

Title: Re: Tomb of the Unknown
Post by Jeepgun on Aug 5^th, 2004, 11:24am

Beautiful.... Magnificent and fitting tribute.

Title: Re: Tomb of the Unknown
Post by Jimmy_B on Aug 5^th, 2004, 11:39am

Very poignant e-mail...although most is fact...some of it is not.

www.snopes.com/military/unknown.asp

Still very impressive duty & still a fitting tribute.

Jimmy

Title: Re: Tomb of the Unknown
Post by Charlie on Aug 5^th, 2004, 12:01pm

Nice reading kids.

Yes, I've been there.....in 1958....Been quite a spell. Saw the Vietnam memorial though on a drive through a few years ago. Impressive stuff around Washington that so many of you will never get a chance to see since 9-11. No more tours of the East Room for kids and taking pictures from the Senate Galleries. A sad state of affairs.

Thanks too Jimmy. You saved me some time there.

Charlie

Title: Re: Tomb of the Unknown
Post by Leesa on Aug 5^th, 2004, 2:20pm

Growing up not far for DC and Arlington I rem. being a kid and my family going to see the Tomb. I rem. my dad having tears in his eyes seeing it and I always wondered why? My dad gave a whole new meaning to the word hard ass. Look up the word hard asss in Websters and there you will a pic of my old man. ::)Well I had the very same thing happen to me when I went and saw it on Memorial Day one year. I was in total awe of what it REALLY ment and even now a few years later everytime I see it on the news I still get the same feeling. I am blessed to be able to say I AM AN AMERICAN and will forever be PROUD of our men and woemn who gave it all!
With much respect, Leesa