Posted on 11/19/2004 7:04:03 PM PST by soozla
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Q. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why?
A. 21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.
Q. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his return walk and why?
A. 21 seconds for the same reason as answer above.
Q. Why are his gloves wet?
A. His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.
Q. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time and if not, why not?.
A. 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.
Q. How often are the guards changed?
A. Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.
Q. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?
A. 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 Unknowns 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 very 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 and keep them.
Goodness not this again. BTW The part about drinking is total BS.
I once read that during a severe hurricane, the guards were offered the option of coming in from the weather and declined.
I also heard that they can bilocate and project telekinetic energy through their hands. It's on the internet so it must be true!
Swear to it...
Some of it is right but you should always consult snopes.com when you receive things like this.
Someone apparently wanted to highlight the special qualities and training required to be a guard at Tomb of the Unknowns by creating the widely-circulated message quoted above, a list mixing fact and fiction which we'll try to sort out below:
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Each soldier must be in superb physical condition, possess an unblemished military record and be between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet, 4 inches tall, with a proportionate weight and build.
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The 500th Tomb Guard Identification Badge was awarded in early 2002, and the total number of recipients is now about 525. The award is, as its name states, a badge worn on the pocket of a uniform jacket, not a pin worn in the lapel.Once the sentinel has completed his or her training, he or she is examined formally for proficiency in performing the duties and in knowledge of ANC. He or she must first pass a written examination of 100 questions about ANC and then be evaluated on proficiency in keeping watch at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
Upon successful completion, the soldier is awarded a temporary Tomb Guard's Badge at a ceremony presided over by the company commander. The Badge is one of the Army's higher honors and can be taken away from the soldier if he or she does not continue to maintain the highest military standards.
As of early 2002, there had been nine revocations of the Tomb Guard Identification Badge.The Tomb Guard Identification Badge is one of the least awarded badges in the Army, second only to the Astronaut Badge. Since the sentinels are held to such a high standard, if they ever do anything that is deemed behavior unbecoming a Tomb Guard or brings dishonor upon the Tomb, their badges may be revoked, even after [the sentinels] have left active duty military service.
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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 shoes are standard issue military dress shoes. They are built up so the sole and heel are equal in height. This allows the Sentinel to stand so that his back is straight and perpendicular to the ground. A side effect of this is that the Sentinel can "roll" on the outside of the build up as he walks down the mat. This allows him to move in a fluid fashion. If he does this correctly, his hat and bayonet will appear to not "bob" up and down with each step. It gives him a more formal and smooth look to his walk, rather than a "marching" appearance.
The soles have a steel tip on the toe and a "horseshoe" steel plate on the heel. This prevents wear on the sole and allows the Sentinel to move smoothly during his movements when he turns to face the Tomb and then back down the mat.
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The Sentinels of the Tombs of the Unknown (Arlington National Cemetery) |
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Sentinel Training (Arlington National Cemetery) |
You must read this.
Tomb of the Unknowns
Most of it may be true but, there may be some deviations by individuals. I have personally been down below the tomb into the guards preparation chambers. These guys are great. What most people don'et know is that the same building holds the Medal of Honor Awardees upstairs...in addition, each unknown soldier is postumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
The Tomb Guard is from the 3rd U.S Infantry Regiment, the "Old Guard", which is the oldest active unit in the United States Army. The Army guards the Tomb for the same reason it always carries the flag in all service color guards- it's the senior service. pre-existing all the others.
Yes, I have heard all of that information before. They tell you most of it when you are visiting the tomb just prior to the changing of the guard ceremony. There was a PBS special that just aired a few days ago about Arlington and about the Guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! ;^)
I think this is mostly nonsense mixed with standard stuff that you can read from the pamphlet.
The above bit is certainly bull, as no organization has that authority.
This isn't the Tomb of the Unknown Taliban you know.
The Garden of Stone is a must see place for all Americans.
As for the men who guard them. They are the finest among us and I hold them in high regard. Is is a task that they take on daily and without second thoughts.
Duty, Honer, Courage - The Corps, The Corps, The Corps.
http://www.shoppbs.org/sm-pbs-national-geographic-specials-arlington-field-of-honor--pi-1889887.html
As much as it pains me...I am going to recommend the National Geographic special
on Arlington National Cemetary that aired on PBS (linked above).
I saw it last night on KOCE, Channel 50 in Orange Co., California.
It covers the history of Arlington, the intricate choreography of the
military guards and other burial-detail personnel, the "Arlington Ladies" that
often stand by a lone spouse at the graveside, etc.
It should be aired every Memorial Day.
I, too, have visited the barracks (guard prep chamber as you called it). It was immaculate, fully a credit to the young men and women on duty.
What isn't mentioned is that there is a SOG (Sgt of the Guard) on duty at the same time. His standards of dress is just as intensive as the guards.
I do not know how many troops are in the company (perhaps I have forgotten), but I do know that competition is intense for the positions.
If anyone is interested, I put together a little video clip to honor these guys. My dad is buried in Arlington, and I am very grateful for the honor and respect they treated him with.
Check it out at:
http://homepage.mac.com/rlmorel/iMovieTheater39.html
I was in the 3D INF for 3.5 years and missed the Tomb Guard by 2 inches. Most of this E-Mail is BS. I was never so glad to be only 5'10 in my life.
"ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM."
I caught most of that PBS special on the guards and the Arlington Cemetery. It was incredible. I hope they'll air it again, so I can see the whole thing.
They showed the crowds of people arriving on buses. They would be talking as they arrived, yet when the guardians made their appearance you could hear a pin drop. It was a powerful scene...
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