June 30, 200421 yr I never forward anything but this is definetly worthy of sharing: Did you know....... > > > This must take a special kind of person. > > > 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. > > > I don't know if you saw this in the news but it really impressed me. > Funny, our US Senate/House took 2 days off as they couldn't work because > of > the expected storm. > > > On the ABC evening news, it was reported tonight that, because of the > dangers from Hurricane Isabelle 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 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 > 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.
June 30, 200421 yr Wow that is some dedication.... Some people go to like santiago, and others spend guard duty to find peace (well that is what i think of it, but going on food to Santiago is nothing compered to this stuff)
June 30, 200421 yr ive always wanted to do that. would be an honor. people from every branch (army, navy, air force and marines) get selected to do that. only if i was a wea bit taller, but i would def put in for that. layter,-G :twisted:
July 1, 200421 yr only the 3rd Inf Reg Old Guard patrols the tomb of the unknown soldier, the other branches are out of luck
July 1, 200421 yr ???? not from what i heard and saw. a guy on my sub that i was on last month got selected to do that. so i def know navy can do it and when i asked they said all branches can do it.
July 1, 200421 yr Some of this email is bullcrap. Pure, and simple, bullcrap. However, the part about soldiers not leaving their posts is true. And traditionally, only the Old Guard patrols the Tomb of the unknown Soldier, however, other branches can do it.
July 1, 200421 yr whats bullcrap? part about their uniform and everything like that. man youd be surprised. if you have a watch a couple times a day for 30 min. what about the other time. i dont think its bull. but o well
July 2, 200421 yr I have a joke for this, but there is not a good place to put it here because = respect first!Egidio.
July 2, 200421 yr please inform us of this bull Alright, indeed i shall. Hold on fast folks, the truth's about to be known! 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. My bullcrap detector is going CRAAAAZY here! Lets find out if it's the truth, shall we? Oh, it's not! According to Society of the Honor Guard Tomb of the Unknown Soldier it's, and i quote, 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. BS indicator number two: They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives Proof: Is it true they cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives? Again, another false rumor. How could that be enforced? Number three: 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. Acutally: 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, that there are only 400 presently worn, and that 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 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 guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin. See above for information about it's truthfulness or not.
July 2, 200421 yr *shrug* If everyone else is going to take blind spam-mail as the full & complete truth, I might as well research it.
July 2, 200421 yr Author ok one this was sent to me out of the blue by my 9th grade history teacher. Who happened to also be in the military. the swearing thing is as enforceable as the drinking. And I even have one of the wreaths right here in front of me. Look if you are trying to inform us then do so in a non ignorant manner. I am not old enough to be in ht military yet and I do plan on making a career out of it, but I do not stand for anyone badmouthing the US military or any of it's services. If you have a problem with passed on information please be nicer about it. Some of that which you have stated is false because I have talked to some of the guards on a field trip to the Marine Barracks in DC. So we can sit here and argue all we want but this wasn't meant for that. This was to praise the dedication of these men and the cause that they protect.For the record, behavior in public is not enforced because the people that make into this service are of high moral values and can control themselves. Most of what you have said is true, but i guess everyone in the guard thinks of it i na different way because what was stated first is also what i have heard straight from them
July 3, 200421 yr the swearing thing is as enforceable as the drinking. So not enforceable at all? And I even have one of the wreaths right here in front of me. Look if you are trying to inform us then do so in a non ignorant manner. Yet, i am informed. And my family members (several who are apart of the 525 people with the badge) agree with me. Hell, one of the guards is in my boyscout troop. He served on Former President Reagans burial service. i know these informations. This website, which i believe is the offical one, appears to contain no wronged information. but I do not stand for anyone badmouthing the US military or any of it's services. Where did i say anything bad or wrong about the US military? I think it's great for people who can't afford college from the get-go; provides a great place for advacement. My father served in the military, as did all his brothers and all his sisters. Both of my grandfathers served in WW2; as did both of my grandmothers. I know the importance of military. Please do not attempt to tell me that i'm bad mouthing the military - i'm not. If you have a problem with passed on information please be nicer about it. My intention hasn't been to be harmful, or hurtful. It wasn't meant to be kind, either. It wasn't even what i thought of at first - I believe some admin came along and edited my first post. But, hey; i could be wrong & it could just be the forums. This was to praise the dedication of these men and the cause that they protect. The people that protect the tomb of the unknown soldier don't really protect much. They protect an idea - an idea that can be alot easier protected in other ways, and forms; as well as considerably cheaper. In my opinion, they're just protecting three coffins of three people no one knows. For the record, behavior in public is not enforced because the people that make into this service are of high moral values and can control themselves. Heh, ok, if you say so. I'd say something here that would prove my disagreement with you, but i wouldn't want to be called mean again
July 3, 200421 yr Author The people that protect the tomb of the unknown soldier don't really protect much. They protect an idea - an idea that can be alot easier protected in other ways, and forms; as well as considerably cheaper. In my opinion, they're just protecting three coffins of three people no one knows. I cant believe you just said that. sometimes ideas are what makes the difference in how people react or act. Cheap does not cut it. Honor and integrity are worth more than the convenient way out
July 3, 200421 yr I cant believe you just said that. sometimes ideas are what makes the difference in how people react or act. Cheap does not cut it. Honor and integrity are worth more than the convenient way out The fact i say they're protecting an expensive idea? They are. They could show honor & integrity in much easier ways than they're doing it right now. And, in todays world where everyone is bitching about having to pay too many taxes for this, not getting enough for that, the money isn't there for the budget....Every little cent counts. You're assuming i'm saying 'get ride of the idea!' while i'm not. I'm saying 'change the idea to X, because X represents the same thing as this, only considerably less expensive, while maintaining the same ammount of honor and integrity'. But, hey, if you'd like to just mis my conclusions and statements, go right ahead *shrug* doesn't bother me.
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