Posted on 03/07/2010 9:17:07 AM PST by shove_it
Timing is everything. Two Soldier-brothers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) made history Feb. 19.
It happened while many of us were getting ready for work.
It happened as the sun was rising over the sacred grounds, at Arlington National Cemetery.
And it happened in front of friends and Family.
On this day, Spc. Mathew Brisiel and his brother, Staff Sgt. Jonathan Brisiel, became the first brothers to serve as Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknowns at the same time.
Mathew Brisiel joined his brother in receiving the honored Tomb Badge. During the ceremony, Brisiel repeated the Sentinel’s Creed — which is something all Sentinels strive to live by. Brother Jonathan then attached Tomb Badge # 578 on younger brother Mathew’s uniform. With these two moves, these ‘brothers-in-arms’ made it into the history books.
Col. David P. Anders, regimental commander of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) said the Tomb Badge changes a Soldier’s life forever. ‘‘It’s just so rare. It’s the rarest Army badge. There have only been 578 ever issued.”
[...]
Photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Coffee Spc. Mathew Brisiel and his brother Staff Sgt. Jonathan Brisiel and their mother Cathy, became the first brothers to serve as Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknowns at the same time, Feb. 19
(Excerpt) Read more at dcmilitary.com ...
ping
Please change the headline to read:
Brothers first to serve together as Tomb guards
HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD
Either Discovery or the History Channel did a great documentary on the special men who volunteer for this duty. It’s a very compelling picture of the total dedication, and extreme training these young men endure just to get this duty.
It’s difficult to find such honor in most places.
At my last visit in March of 2001, there was a group of young people there and their supervision was lacking. They were starting to run all about and talk and just be silly children. After several people had tried to shush them, suddenly, the young man who was currently walking back and forth - STOPPED DEAD IN HIS TRACKS! He turned sharply and faced the crowd and pretty basically told them to stop talking and moving around, and to have respect for the soldiers who were being honored there. WHOA! The children sat down and immediately shut up.
It showed me that the children had not been instructed by their teachers as to how to act while at the memorial.
In my lifetime, I’ve had the opportunity to visit mighty cathedrals and numerous religious sites around the world; but none, not one, can compare to what I feel when I am at Arlington. For me it is a very Holy place.
I’ve met and talked with a few of these special men and they are beautiful, through and through. In my day-to-day life, I seldom have the chance to witness from civilians such pure sense of purpose. Bless them for their duty and honor.
It’s too bad the children didn’t have direction from the teacher, but , nevertheless, it is a lesson that had to be taught. I’m sure it will not be forgotten.
For those who haven’t seen it before ..... Honor Guard at Arlington in a rainstorm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMk8i-K8Vcc
Yes, I think the children really got the message. They stayed very quiet even when it was time to leave .. not one of them spoke a word.
My visit in March of 2001, was a revisit from May of 1955, when as a high school graduate from upstate NY, the seniors took a trip to NYC and on to Wash. D.C. It was really fun for me because my mom had taken the exact same trip when she graduated from the same school.
I must admit a bias to the Grounds, as we have three family members buried there and my fiancee.
Having two full honor burials to see still brings chills and awe. Just thinking about the caparisoned horse makes me tear up.
If you can get to Arlington again, at the Fort Meyers entrance, you can tour the Old Guard stables ... and if you have kids of your own in tow ...they love it!
This past spring , my partner and I visited a friend who is stationed in DC. She was amazed at the sense of ‘spirit’ at Arlington. She told me it was one of the most emotional experiances of her life.
On the next day, while she visited with her friend (a USAF chaplain) I spent another entire day at Arlington. There is so much history.
The park may have been started to spite Gen Lee; But there is no place I know that demonstrates the sacrifices made by men and woman in the name of freedom.
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