Another Tribute to our Soldiers!!!!

[TexMist]

This is really an awesome sight to watch if you've never had the chance Very fascinating.

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 all the time
and if not, why not?

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.




5. How often are the guards changed?

Guards are changed every thirty minutes,
twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.








6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?

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 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 has been patrolled continuously,
24/7, since 1930.




God Bless and keep them.




We can be very proud of our men and women in the service no matter where they serve.

[Ciderlion]

Tex intresting read.
I can fully understand the Military rules required to be part of the honor guard, but i am intrested and bemused by things like no drink or swearing in public for life, no speaking, no TV...I dont undertsand how some of these will affect the ability to carry out duties.
I saw the Garden of stone (think thats the title) movie again the other day interesting. My dad was in the army for 28 years and retired early, and he did all sorts including close protection duties plus ceremonial duties for the Queen.

[TexMist]

Tex intresting read.
I can fully understand the Military rules required to be part of the honor guard, but i am intrested and bemused by things like no drink or swearing in public for life, no speaking, no TV...I dont undertsand how some of these will affect the ability to carry out duties.
I saw the Garden of stone (think thats the title) movie again the other day interesting. My dad was in the army for 28 years and retired early, and he did all sorts including close protection duties plus ceremonial duties for the Queen.

I thought it was alittle stiff myself the never drinking or swearing....
Here is the link I found....http://www.tombguard.org/
Sorry if some of the info was false.....
I just always think that praising of of soldiers is never done enough!!

They are the ones that keep our freedom.....and right to express ourselves!!
Take Care!!

[Soliel]

Tex intresting read.
I can fully understand the Military rules required to be part of the honor guard, but i am intrested and bemused by things like no drink or swearing in public for life, no speaking, no TV...I dont undertsand how some of these will affect the ability to carry out duties.
I saw the Garden of stone (think thats the title) movie again the other day interesting. My dad was in the army for 28 years and retired early, and he did all sorts including close protection duties plus ceremonial duties for the Queen.

I can't speak for the code of silence or not TV but I would guess they say no drink or swearing because these things lower one's vibration. This is my opinion and the opinions of others but swearing especially, adds a negative influence around the person who does it.

Soliel

[Ciderlion]

Thanks Guys
I will have a proper look at that site Tex
Call me sad or over emotional, but nothing gets me more than seeing a military cemetry. I lost 2 pals i used to work and hang around,not long after i left Northern Ireland, I remember them every remberance day we have in the Uk which is held annually at the beginning of November.
I had the priviledge of visiting the Rheims area of France a few years back, and as you can imagine found several cemetries, some very small some not so, all beautifully cared for. one was a sea of crosses a german cemetry for casualties interned after the first world war in an area set aside for german soldiers who died and were recovered from the battlefields of the area.
45,000 souls, it took my breath away and i felt very humbled. i also visited Vimy ridge a truly beautiful memorial for Canadian troops.The ground still bears craters, and there are no go areas with woodland roped off due to unstable unexploded ordnance still remaining.
War is a sometimes a necessary but filthy culmination of humanity.
Forgive me i am rambling...as you can tell an emotional subject for me.

[myranchretirement]

This is really an awesome sight to watch if you've never had the chance Very fascinating.

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 all the time
and if not, why not?

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.




5. How often are the guards changed?

Guards are changed every thirty minutes,
twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.








6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?

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 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 has been patrolled continuously,
24/7, since 1930.




God Bless and keep them.




We can be very proud of our men and women in the service no matter where they serve.

I have to admit............I get goose bumps every time I read that. it is the highest honor of any serviceman.

[millionairetobe71]

People of this forum,
The highest honor for a servicemember is the call of duty. When your country call you and you serve without ever asking why or where, that is the highest honor. Now the highest reward that a servicemember wants to receive is the support of the citizens. Once I was waiting for my dad in the airport in Austin Texas, and a unknown person approached and say thanks, I was puzzled because after all my years in the Army no one has ever approached liked that. I first thought that I helped this guy somehow and I was trying to remember, but then he said, " for all you guys in the military, thank you"...I have to admit that the feeling that I had at that moment, not all the millions or billions of dollars could ever buy a fraction of that feeling. You see, when we swear under the flag, we do it voluntary, and knowing that at any point we will go to war against a rogue countries. We don't want to be rich with the government salary, nor we are asking for especial conditions. All we wanted to do is serve our country. Is any one on this forum is a vet, then you will know what I am talking about. Anyone can imagine what is like in the military, but let me tell you, I am now in Iraq, and anytime of my buddies goes out in convoy, I pray to God to bring my "hommie" back home safe.. I could not imagine what would be like if just one of them doesn't make it in one piece. That is that type of thing we go through... But sometimes., to understad it you have to live first,....... my .02cents

[Specul8tor]

I highly recommend you all see the Changing of the Guard in person. (For those who haven't.) I just took my mom again 2 weeks ago. Everytime she comes to visit me, she wants to see it. And before my father passed away this spring, he loved going there as well. (He was a former Vietnam Vet).

It's very moving, and quite a sight. Ha, you should see the guards(Sentinel?) when they announce the change, and times when they need to "hush" certain LOUD children. They don't mess around.

Arlington National Cemetary is one of my all-time favorite places...cryptic as that may sound.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/

[Specul8tor]

Tex intresting read.
I can fully understand the Military rules required to be part of the honor guard, but i am intrested and bemused by things like no drink or swearing in public for life, no speaking, no TV...I dont undertsand how some of these will affect the ability to carry out duties.
I saw the Garden of stone (think thats the title) movie again the other day interesting. My dad was in the army for 28 years and retired early, and he did all sorts including close protection duties plus ceremonial duties for the Queen.

I don't believe the info about the drinking and swearing is correct.
http://www.tombguard.org/FAQ.html

Is it true 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.

No, this is a false rumor. The average tour at the Tomb is about a year. There is NO set time for service there. The Sentinels live either in a barracks on Ft. Myer (the Army post located adjacent to the cemetery) or off base if they like. They do have living quarters under the steps of the amphitheater where they stay during their 24 hour shifts, but when they are off, they are off. And if they are of legal age, they may drink anything they like, except while on duty.

Is it true they cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives?

Again, another false rumor.