TOMB OF
THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER (Interesting Facts)
Interesting facts about the Tomb
of the Unknown Soldier and the Sentinels of the Third United States Infantry
Regiment "Old Guard"
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 number 1.
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: No, 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.
The Sentinels Creed:
My dedication to this sacred
duty is total and wholehearted. In the responsibility bestowed on me never will
I falter. And with dignity and perseverance my standard will remain perfection.
Through the years of diligence and praise and the discomfort of the elements, I
will walk my tour in humble reverence to the best of my ability. It is he who
commands the respect I protect. His bravery that made us so proud. Surrounded by
well meaning crowds by day alone in the thoughtful peace of night, this soldier
will in honored glory rest under my eternal vigilance.
More Interesting facts about
the Tomb of the Unknowns itself:
The marble for the Tomb of the
Unknowns was furnished by the Vermont Marble Company of Danby, Vt. The marble is
the finest and whitest of American marble, quarried from the Yule Marble Quarry
located near Marble, Colorado and is called Yule Marble. The Marble for the
Lincoln memorial and other famous buildings was also quarried there.
The Tomb consists of seven
pieces of rectangular marble: Four pieces in sub base; weight Â- 15 tons;
One piece in base or plinth;
weight - 16 tons;
One piece in die; weight - 36
tons;
One piece in cap; weight - 12
tons;
Carved on the East side (the
front of the Tomb, which faces Washington, D.C.) is a composite of three
figures, commemorative of the spirit of the Allies of World War I.
In the center of the panel
stands Victory (female).
On the right side, a male
figure symbolizes Valor.
On the left side stands Peace,
with her palm branch to reward the devotion and sacrifice that went with courage
to make the cause of righteousness triumphant.
The north and south sides are
divided into three panels by Doric pilasters. In each panel is an inverted
wreath.
On the west, or rear, panel
(facing the Amphitheater) is inscribed:
HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN
AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD
The first Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier was a sub base and a base or plinth. It was slightly smaller than the
present base. This was torn away when the present Tomb was started Aug. 27,
1931. The Tomb was completed and the area opened to the public 9:15 a.m. April
9, 1932, without any ceremony.
Cost of the Tomb: $48,000
Sculptor: Thomas Hudson Jones
Architect: Lorimer Rich
Contractors: Hagerman &
Harris, New York City
Inscription: Author Unknown
(Interesting Commentary)
The Third Infantry Regiment at
Fort Myer has the responsibility for providing ceremonial units and honor guards
for state occasions, White House social functions, public celebrations and
interments at Arlington National Cemetery and standing a very formal sentry
watch at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
The public is familiar with
the precision of what is called "walking post" at the Tomb. There are roped off
galleries where visitors can form to observe the troopers and their measured
step and almost mechanically, silent rifle shoulder changes. They are relieved
every hour in a very formal drill that has to be seen to be believed.
Some people think that when
the Cemetery is closed to the public in the evening that this show stops. First,
to the men who are dedicated to this work, it is no show. It is a "charge of
honor." The formality and precision continues uninterrupted all night. During
the nighttime, the drill of relief and the measured step of the on-duty sentry
remain unchanged from the daylight hours. To these men, these special men, the
continuity of this post is the key to the honor and respect shown to these
honored dead, symbolic of all unaccounted for American combat dead. The steady
rhythmic step in rain, sleet, snow, hail, heat and cold must be uninterrupted.
Uninterrupted is the important part of the honor shown.
Recently, while you were
sleeping, the teeth of hurricane Isabel came through this area and tore hell out
of everything. We had thousands of trees down, power outages, traffic signals
out, roads filled with downed limbs and "gear adrift" debris. We had flooding
and the place looked like it had been the impact area of an off-shore
bombardment.
The Regimental Commander of
the U.S. Third Infantry sent word to the nighttime Sentry Detail to secure the
post and seek shelter from the high winds, to ensure their personal safety.
THEY DISOBEYED THE ORDER!
During winds that turned over
vehicles and turned debris into projectiles, the measured step continued. One
fellow said "I've got buddies getting shot at in Iraq who would kick my butt if
word got to them that we let them down. I sure as hell have no intention of
spending my Army career being known as the damned idiot who couldn't stand a
little light breeze and shirked his duty." Then he said something in response to
a female reporters question regarding silly purposeless personal risk... "I
wouldn't expect you to understand. It's an enlisted man's thing." God bless the
rascal... In a time in our nation's history when spin and total b.s. seem to
have become the accepted coin-of-the-realm, there beat hearts - the enlisted
hearts we all knew and were so damn proud to be a part of - that fully
understand that devotion to duty is not a part-time occupation. While we slept,
we were represented by some damn fine men who fully understood their post orders
and proudly went about their assigned responsibilities unseen, unrecognized and
in the finest tradition of the American Enlisted Man. Folks, there's hope. The
spirit that George S. Patton, Arliegh Burke and Jimmy Doolittle left us ...
survives.
On the ABC evening news, it
was reported recently that, because of the dangers from Hurricane Isabel
approaching Washington, DC, the military members assigned the duty of guarding
the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment.
They refused. "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
service person. The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.
Very, very proud of our
soldiers in uniform
How long does the Sentinel hesitate after his about face to begin his return
walk and does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time, and if not,
why not?
He does not execute an about face. He stops on the 21st step, then turns and
faces the Tomb for 21 seconds. Then he turns to face back down the mat, changes
his weapon to the outside shoulder, counts 21 seconds, then steps off for
another 21 step walk down the mat. He faces the Tomb at each end of the 21 step
walk for 21 seconds. The Sentinel then repeats this over and over until he is
relieved at the Guard Change.
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. How could that be enforced?
Is it true 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 Tomb Guard Identification Badge is awarded after the Sentinel passes a
special test. The Badge is permanently awarded after a Sentinel has served 9
months. Currently there are 525 awarded. And while the Badge can be revoked, the
offense must be very severe, such as a felony conviction. But you can drink a
beer and even swear and still keep the Badge. And the Badge is a full size
award, worn on the right pocket of the uniform jacket, not a lapel pin.
Are the shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold
from their feet?
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.
Then there is the "clicker". It is a shank of steel attached to the inside of
the face of the heel build-up on each shoe. It allows the Sentinel to click his
heels during certain movements. If a guard change is really hot, it is called a
"smoker" because all the heel clicks fall together and sound like one click. In
fact, the guard change is occasionally done in the "silent" mode (as a sign of
devotion to the Unknowns"). No voice commands - every thing is done in relation
to the heel clicks and on specific counts.
"The first 6 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. Every guard spends 5 hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard
duty."
I strongly suspect this is inaccurate as well, but can't say for sure.
The Tomb is guarded 24/7, rain or shine. The comments about the Sentinels
disobeying a direct order and staying at their post during Hurricane Isabel is
accurate. This is backed up by several sources, including the SotHG.
Q: Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time, and if not, why
not?
A: No, 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.
Fact:
The guard does not execute an about-face, and there is more involved in the
procedure than is described here.
* The sentinel marches 21 steps across the black mat, past the final resting
places of the Unknown Soldiers of World War I, World War II, Korea, and the
crypt of the Unknown Soldier of the Vietnam War.
* With a crisp turn, the sentinel turns 90 degrees (not about-face) to face east
for 21 seconds.
* The sentinel then turns a sharp 90 degrees again to face north for 21 seconds.
A crisp "shoulder-arms" movement places the rifle on the shoulder nearest the
visitors to signify that the sentinel stands between the tomb and any threat.
* After the moment, the sentinel paces 21 steps north, turns and repeats the
process
Q: How often are the guards changed?
A: Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a
year.
Fact
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 24
hours a day, 7 days a week. In fact, there has been a Sentinel on duty in front
of the Tomb every minute of every day since 1937. And the Sentinel does not
change the way he guards the Tomb, even at night when there is no one around.
The Sentinels do this because they feel that the Unknown Soldiers who are buried
in the Tomb deserve the very best they have to give.
Each Relief (team) has a rotation during the 24 hour work day. This rotation is
dependant on the number of Soldier-Sentinels who are proficient enough to guard
the Tomb. The standard is 3-4 qualified Sentinels, 1-2 Relief
Commander/Assistant Relief Commander, and 1-2 Sentinels in training. Generally,
the Sentinel will be on guard duty for a tour and have two tours off in between
- then go out for another tour. However, in extreme cases, Sentinels have been
known to go back-to-back for the entire 24 hour shift.
Currently, the Tomb Guards work on a three Relief (team) rotation - 24 hours on,
24 hours off, 24 hours on, 24 hours off, 24 hours on, 96 hours off. However,
over the years it has been different. The time off isn't exactly free time. It
takes the average Sentinel 8 hours to prep his/her uniform for the next work
day. Additionally, they have Physical Training, Tomb Guard training, and
haircuts to complete before the next work day.
The Tomb is guarded, and has been guarded, every minute of every day since 1937.
Back in the early 1920's, after the first interrnment in 1921, we didn't have
guards and the Tomb looked much different. People often came to the cemetery in
those days for picnics during which time some would actually use the Tomb as a
picnic area (probably because of the view). Soon after, 1925, they posted a
civilian guard; in 1926, a military guard was posted during cemetery hours; and
on July 1, 1937, this was expanded
to the 24-hour watch. Since then, the ceremony has developed throughout the
years to what we have today. Today, most of the challenges faced by the
Sentinels are tourists who want to get a better picture or uncontrolled children
(which generally is very frightening for the parent when the
Soldier challenges the child). However, there have been moments of concern, like
in 1984 when a former government employee took the Sentinel hostage with a
handgun. In that situation, the Tomb Guards not on duty were alerted and
proceeded to tackle the gunman from behind - no one was injured.
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".
Fact:
One of the first reactions of visitors at the Tomb, is to comment on how tall
the soldiers are. While you might not notice the difference in height, a Tomb
Guard can tell what Relief is working. . . . just based on their height.
1st Relief 6'2" to 6'4"
2nd Relief 6' to 6'2"
3rd Relief 5'11" to 6'
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
Fact:
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 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.
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.
Fact:
The Tomb Guard Identification Badge is awarded after the Sentinel passes a
special test,not something simply handed out to everyone who serves for a given
period of time. The Badge is permanently awarded after a Sentinel has served 9
months as a Sentinel at the Tomb. Currently there are 525 awarded. And while the
Badge can be revoked, the offense must be very severe, such as a felony
conviction. But you can drink a beer and even swear and still keep the Badge.
And the Badge is a full size award, worn on the right pocket of the uniform
jacket, not a lapel 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.
Fact:
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.
Then there is the "clicker". It is a shank of steel attached to the inside of
the face of the heel build-up on each shoe. It allows the Sentinel to click his
heels during certain movements. If a guard change is really hot, it is called a
"smoker" because all the heel clicks fall together and sound like one click. In
fact, the guard change is occasionally done in the "silent" mode (as a sign of
devotion to the Unknowns"). No voice commands - every thing is done in relation
to the heel clicks and on specific counts.
The first SIX MONTHS of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV.
Fact:
A Tomb guard's behavior is not so stringently regulated that he is prohibited
from speaking to anyone for a full six months (someone seems to have confused
the Old Guard with a monastery!), and guards may do whatever they want
(including watching TV) during their off-duty hours. But since any soldier
wishing to become a sentinel must undergo rigorous training, including several
hours a day of marching, rifle drill and uniform preparation, and every tomb
sentinel is expected to be completely versed in the history of both the tomb and
of Arlington National Cemetery (including
knowing how to find the graves of all the prominent person buried in the
cemetery), they don't necessarily have a lot of free time to devote to
recreational activities.
On the ABC evening news, it was reported recently that, because of the dangers
from Hurricane Isabel approaching Washington, DC, the military members assigned
the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to
suspend the assignment. They refused. "No way, Sir!"
Fact:
It was erroneously reported that during Hurricane Isabel, the Sentinels were
ordered to abandon their posts for shelter and that they refused. No such order
was ever given. All proper precautions were taken to ensure the safety of the
Sentinels while accomplishing their mission. Risk assessments are constantly
conducted by the Chain of Command during changing conditions to ensure that
soldier welfare is maintained during mission accomplishment.
The Tomb Guards have contingencies that are ready to be executed IF the weather
conditions EVER place the Soldiers at risk of injury or death – such as
lightning, high winds, etc. This ensures that Sentinels can maintain the Tomb
Guard responsibilities while ensuring soldier safety. It is the responsibility
of the Chain of Command from the Sergeant of the Guard to the Regimental
Commander to ensure mission accomplishment and soldier welfare at all times.
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.
How long does the Sentinel hesitate after his about face to begin his return
walk and does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time, and if not,
why not?
He does not execute an about face. He stops on the 21st step, then turns and
faces the Tomb for 21 seconds. Then he turns to face back down the mat, changes
his weapon to the outside shoulder, counts 21 seconds, then steps off for
another 21 step walk down the mat. He faces the Tomb at each end of the 21 step
walk for 21 seconds. The Sentinel then repeats this over and over until he is
relieved at the Guard Change.
Do you guard in a blizzard or a bad thunderstorm?
YES, BUT the accomplishment of the mission and welfare of the Soldier is never
put at risk. The Tomb Guards have contingencies that are ready to be executed IF
the weather conditions EVER place the Soldiers at risk of injury or death – such
as lightning, high winds, etc. This ensures that Sentinels can maintain the Tomb
Guard responsibilities while ensuring soldier safety. It is the responsibility
of the Chain of Command from the Sergeant of the Guard to the Regimental
Commander to ensure mission accomplishment and soldier welfare at all times.
It was erroneously reported that during Hurricane Isabel, the Sentinels were
ordered to abandon their posts for shelter and that they refused. No such order
was ever given. All proper precautions were taken to ensure the safety of the
Sentinels while accomplishing their mission. Risk assessments are constantly
conducted by the Chain of Command during changing conditions to ensure that
soldier welfare is maintained during mission accomplishment.
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