God Bless Them.
For years I’ve wondered what the Tomb Sentinels “walking the mat” the morning of 9-11-2001 experienced when the Pentagon got hit to their immediate South-East. While they would not have been able to see the impact, they certainly heard the jet come in, heard the impact and observed the rising fireball.
These soldiers are incredibly dedicated to the honor and solemnity of their duty - and I have absolutely no doubt that they stood fast at their post. Still, it must have been a surreal experience.
I suck compared to every one of them....
We then went to the Tomb and pay our respects and watch the guard on duty and the changing of the guard which occurred every half hour.
There was a rope and support poles which separated the spectators from the tomb.
On this day there was a mother with a baby. The mother was watching the guard and as he passed the baby crawled under the rope and sat on the carpet. When the Guard turned to begin his return march he saw the baby. He then said in a highly mechanical voice, “Madam! Please remove your child from the cordoned area. Everyone was startled by the nature of his command voice. The baby began to cry and the mother scrambled under the rope to retrieve her child. Quite a day!
They are committed for life to the requirements of being a guard...i.e., they can never drink alcohol.
When I was a kid we spent a lot of time in DC because my grandfather worked in the Pentagon from 79-84; he was a Warrant Officer in the National Guard. We visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for the changing of the guard and I can still see them and feel the solemnity in the air. Both my brothers years later went on to serve in the Old Guard themselves. I never thought about the fact that they endure all kinds of weather to maintain their post. Puts a whole new spin of respect on it.