FReeper Canteen ~ Remembering Our Troops ~ The Sentinels! ~ 27 May 2021

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew and FRiend

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~

~ Remembering Our Troops ~

~ THE SENTINELS! ~

Fun Fact #1

Originally a civilian watchman was responsible for the security of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Then, March 24, 1926, a military guard from the Washington Provisional Brigade (forerunner of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington) was established during the day-light hours. In 1948 the 3d U.S. Infantry "The Old Guard" assumed the post following the units reactivation in the nation’s capital. Members of the 3d Infantry’s Honor Guard continue to serve in this distinguished duty today. A soldier seeking the honor of serving as a sentinel at the Tomb must possess exemplary qualities, to include American citizenship, a spotless record, and impeccable military bearing.
Credit: https://bit.ly/3483M1V

Canteen Mission Statement

Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies' military
and family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

Fun Fact #2

Unlike every American soldier, sailor, airman or Marine, the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier do not wear rank insignia on their coats when guarding the tomb. Since the fallen inside the tomb are unknown, and no one knows what rank they actually were, Tomb Guards don’t wear visible rank so they don’t outrank who they might be guarding. Only when the relief commanders come out to change the guard, do they wear an NCO’s rank. Their actual rank is separate from the uniform they wear while on duty at the tomb.
Credit: https://bit.ly/3viEeuI

Fun Fact #3

The Tomb Guard Badge is the 3rd least awarded badge in the Army. In third place behind the Military Horseman Identification Badge and the Astronaut Badge, acquiring the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Guard Identification Badge is not just rare, it’s incredibly difficult. Only 20% of applicants are accepted for training and the washout rate is astronomical.
Credit: https://bit.ly/3ysd0nD

Fun Fact #4

Soldiers who volunteer to become Tomb Guards must undergo a strict selection process and intensive training. Each element of the Tomb Guard’s routine has meaning. The Guard marches 21 steps down the black mat behind the Tomb, turns and faces east for 21 seconds, turns and faces north for 21 seconds, and then takes 21 steps down the mat. Next, the Guard executes a sharp "shoulder-arms" movement to place his/her weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors, signifying that he or she stands between the Tomb and any possible threat. The number 21 symbolizes the highest symbolic military honor that can be bestowed: the 21-gun salute.
Credit: https://bit.ly/3vhrLrf

Fun Fact #5

The Guard is changed every thirty minutes during the summer (April 1 to Sep 30) and every hour during the winter (Oct 1 to Mar 31). During the hours the cemetery is closed, the guard is changed every 2 hours. The Tomb is guarded, and has been guarded, every minute of every day since 1937.
Credit: https://bit.ly/3wugsfs

Fun Fact #6

The guards aren’t there for show! The Army originally placed guards at the Tomb of the Unknown to deter picnickers from having lunch on top of the hallowed gravesite. In the years that followed, the threat to the tomb became greater than having a good view during lunch and guards are posted to keep people from defacing or touching the monument. or even failing to show proper respect. These are not the Buckingham Palace guards, and they will take steps to deter any encroachment on the tomb, by any means necessary. Credit: https://bit.ly/3udacHD

Fun Fact #7

The Tomb Guard Identification Badge is awarded after the Sentinel passes a series of tests. The Badge is permanently awarded after a Sentinel has served 9 months as a Sentinel at the Tomb. Over 500 have been awarded since its creation in the late 1950’s. And while the Badge can be revoked, the offense must be such that it discredits the Tomb. Revocation is at the Regimental Commanderís discretion. But you can drink a beer and even swear and still keep the Badge. The Badge is a full size award, worn on the right pocket of the uniform jacket, not a lapel pin.
Credit: https://bit.ly/3wmLaqS

Please remember that The Canteen is here to support
and entertain our troops and veterans and their families,
and is family friendly.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good for Mrs Mayor!

[Kathy in Alaska]

[luvie]

Honoring our fallen....
R I P, heroes

[luvie]

In honor of the beautiful full moon outside!
It's the May 🌺Flower🌺 Moon

Craig Chaquico/Russ Freeman~Samba Del Luna

Ottmar Liebert~Dancing Under The Moon

Gary Morris~Lasso The Moon

Paul Hardcastle/Jazzmasters~Moon Trekkin'

Tom Grant~Mambo To The Moon

[luvie]

Wow! That’s an awesome screencap from Lake Hood!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Drats!!! I would have loved to see it “in person”, but THANKS for the scap!! It’s beautiful.

Every time there is something higher up in the sky and in a direction with not so many trees, the clouds cover everything.

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

I hoped Bob would hop on the LH cam since he lives in the Eastern time zone, and he did. I didn’t get to see much here and wouldn’t have seen much eclipse even if we’d had no clouds. They had much more eclipse over Anchorage and fortunately their clouds broke up in time to see it.

[radu]

LOL! It sounds like your luck is as crummy as ours when it comes to sky events. Clouds like to horn in. grrrrrrrr

[luvie]

Glad you got to see it. Steve streamed what they had in FL this morning at 4:30am. I watched the replay at 11am. LOL!

[radu]

I saw Steve’s stream this afternoon. I saw about as much of an eclipse as he did though just for a minute here and there when there were breaks in the clouds.
I wasn’t sure if the clouds at Anchorage would allow us a view but they were kind enough to do so. LOL

[luvie]

It was very nice of them to do that. I never thought of going there. LOL!

I’m in Fascistbook jail. Again. Have no idea why or how long. How boring of them!

[radu]

I thought about it early last evening since they were going to see an almost total eclipse up there. I figured Bob would be ready to get on the cam if the clouds cooperated so I stayed up a little later than normal. I could have waited til this afternoon to check it out but wanted to see it ‘live’.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Beautiful, beautiful graphic!!! Thanks, luvie...I tried to see it at 2:45am, but it was too low in the sky. My southern view is mostly trees.

[luvie]

I’ll bet it was awesome to watch. Even Steve’s view was pretty. That’s about what I would have seen if I had been able to get up. But that was NOT gonna happen. :)

Has it cooled off there? Hasn’t here, but tomorrow is our last 90s day. Thank goodness!

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Thursday morning and ((HUGS)) to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

How's everyone doing this morning?

[radu]

I won’t go so far as saying awesome but it was pretty enough. I enjoy viewing things going on in the skies. Eclipses, meteor showers, auroras (gotta watch those on live stream cams though), ISS zooming across the sky.
Getting to see the total solar eclipse a couple of years ago was an amazing experience. My brother lived dead-center in the path of totality so we went up to his house to watch.

Yes, it cooled down to 85 this afternoon and we got a tiny bit of rain just before dark. This weekend is going to be really nice with temps in the low 70s.

Glad to hear you have a break in your heat coming up.

[radu]

Howdy, E.G.C. ((HUGZ))

Did things get rowdy there weather-wise yesterday or were you lucky enough to miss out on the “fun”? You mentioned you might have some storms.

[luvie]

Thank you! I didn’t get to see it tonight like I did last night. We’re cloudy, too, so it was very hazy. Last night it was blazingly white.

[luvie]

Well, pretty is pretty. LOL! Always much better with your own eyes, but the skies don’t always cooperate.

Guess I’d better head out. Probably won’t sleep well at first though. It’s still 75 degrees, which is really too much for after 2am. Sheesh!

See ya tomorrow!

[radu]

Definitely better when it’s happening over your head but having live streams to watch does come in handy when weather won’t cooperate.

I hope you manage to sleep better tonight.