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Washington D.C. is currently being bombarded with snowfall, so most government employees thought it would be best to take the day off. I mean, if it's dangerous, then sure - take the day. But it's pretty typical of the government to do nothing while others go about their business, isn't it? Check out what's happening during the blizzard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, VA...

Please enjoy this video of a soldier who has dedicated his life to preserving the memory of those who fought and died for our freedoms. In the video, people are laughing off-screen, something that prompts the guard to set them straight.

Among the most revered posts in the army is that of the soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. Just a handful of soldiers have earned the honor of keeping vigil, and it’s a watch that has remained unbroken since 1926. TODAY’s Erica Hill reports.

"It is requested that everyone maintains a level of silence and respect",says the soldier as he stops in stance and demands silence from a disrespectful crowd w/ rifle out front. You could have heard a dime drop that day. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c59_1320722129

Neither rain nor sleet nor Hurricane Irene will prevent soldiers from standing sentry at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. Though most businesses, shops, and government offices will be closed, not even the hurricane expected to hit the Washington area this weekend—and its roughly 85-miles-per-hour winds—will keep the guards from their duty. “The tomb has been guarded continuously since 1948,” said Maj. John Miller, a spokesman for the Old Guard, the Army unit that patrols the place. “There’s been severe in the past. There will be severe weather in the future. We have contingency plans.” -snip- Tradition...

EDITOR'S NOTE: Lyle J Rapacki is a frequent contributor to RFFM.org. Rapacki is an independent intelligence analyst who receives and disseminates critical intelligence and policy information for and to law enforcement, intelligence and homeland security officials and operatives, and government and community leaders. He is the author of dozens of white papers, bulletins and briefings, and is frequently called on to share his expertise with public and private security directors and organizations. Not all of Washington, D.C. was shut-down recently because of snow. At the Tomb of the Unknowns, members of "The Old Guard" continued to walk post; just like...

Teen's essay earns top honors Staff Reports November 25, 2007 Carmen Mesbergen, a junior at Greeley West High School, recently took part in the National Youth Leadership Forum from Oct. 23-28 in Washington, D.C. She participated in an essay contest, and hers was one of the top four chosen out of 400 from students around the country. The prize for the top students was the opportunity to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery. Carmen is in the International Baccalaureate program at Greeley West, and she is the daughter of Gordon and Iris Mesbergen...

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070922/METRO/109220035/1001 The Army is proposing to replace the Tomb of the Unknowns' 48-ton white marble monument because of non-structural cracks. A senator has introduced legislation that would prohibit the Army from replacing the 71-year-old marble sarcophagus marking the Tomb of the Unknowns before submitting to Congress a report on the feasibility of repairing the monument. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, Hawaii Democrat and chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced the measure Thursday as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. "The senator wants to make sure before anything irrevocable is done, that we cross all our t"s and dot...

"Help Save the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery It's hard to believe, but officials at Arlington National Cemetery plan to replace the original Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with a new replica solely because of repairable cosmetic imperfections. This 1932 monument is nationally significant and eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The 48-ton marble block has two nonstructural cracks which pose no threat to visitors or the historic structure. Surprisingly, federal administrators want the replica carved from new stone that experts agree will likely again crack along its grain just as marble...

  The FReeper Canteen  Little Known Factsabout ------------------------ The Tomb of The Unknowns ------------------------  I was sent an email that had a lot of items purporting to be truths about the life of the Guards -- or Sentinels as they are called -- at the Tomb of the Unknowns.  When I went to check out the email, I found a lot of information that I thought was interesting.  I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.   General Information The soldiers who stand guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are hand picked and rigorously...

May 29, 2006 FNS’ Power Player: Staff Sgt. Alfred Lanier (VIDEO) Staff Sgt. Alfred Lanier is the head honor guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. VIDEO – .WMVVIDEO – .MP4

An Army honor guard watches over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier day and night, summer and winter. They never crack. But the tomb has. Two cracks run about three quarters of the way around it, and they may soon go completely through the massive solid block of marble. "We cannot as custodians allow this condition to continue without doing something to remedy it," said Thomas Sherlock, the Arlington National Cemetery historian. Man With Plan vs. Bureaucracy In Colorado, retired car dealer John Haines had an idea: He'd give the government a 60-ton marble slab from the same Colorado quarry...

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why? 21 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...

Bush about to lay wreath on Tomb of Unknown Soldier (Fox News)

Posted previously by beebuster2000: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1499494/posts/> Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 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 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,...

  Tomb of the  Unknown Soldier 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 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...

“Are we, as a nation, still deserving of the price I paid for our freedom?”

President Will Lay Wreath at Arlington 55 minutes ago WASHINGTON - Official ceremonies and solemn visits will mark Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery. ADVERTISEMENT The formal wreath-laying ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. EDT at the Tomb of the Unknowns. President Bush will be among those paying respects to the nation's war dead. And the Memorial Day parade in Washington will feature one of the country's oldest veterans. Lloyd Brown was 16 years old when he signed up to fight in World War I. He's now 103, and one of an estimated 30 U.S. veterans of World War I...

Remarks at Memorial Day Ceremonies Honoring an Unknown Serviceman of the Vietnam Conflict Arlington, Virginia May 28, 1984My fellow Americans: Memorial Day is a day of ceremonies and speeches. Throughout America today, we honor the dead of our wars. We recall their valor and their sacrifices. We remember they gave their lives so that others might live. We're also gathered here for a special event--the national funeral for an unknown soldier who will today join the heroes of three other wars. When he spoke at a ceremony at Gettysburg in 1863, President Lincoln reminded us that through their deeds, the...

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 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...