THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWNS

The recent Veterans' Day observance brought to my email inbox an item of interest to me about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which led me to do further research of it on the Internet. I have never been to Washington, DC, and had the opportunity to visit this memorial myself and only knew what I learned about it in grade school history class. Which, apparently, wasn't much. Like most people, I knew the Tomb was located in Arlington National Cemetery and was guarded by a soldier. I knew the inscription on the white marble sarcophagus reads "HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD". Some things I may have known and forgotten are that on March 3, 1921, Congress approved a resolution providing for the burial in Arlington National Cemetery on Armistice day 1921 of an unknown and unidentified soldier of World War I. On August 3, 1956, President Eisenhower signed a bill to select and pay tribute to the unknowns of World War II and Korea. The interment of these soldiers took place on May 30, 1958. President Reagan presided over the interment of the unknown soldier of Viet Nam on May 30, 1984. For some reason, unknown to me, the remains of this soldier were exhumed on May 14, 1998, and identified by means of DNA testing as those of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael J. Blassie. It was decided that the grave will remain empty. The crypts of the unknowns from WW II, Korea, and Viet Nam lie west of the main Tomb and are marked with white marble slabs flush with the plaza.

Even more interesting to me was what I learned about the soldiers who guard the Tomb. There is a Society of the Honor Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and their motto is "Soldiers never die until they are forgotten. Tomb Guards never forget." Guards must commit two years of their life to guard the Tomb and live in a barracks under the Tomb. They cannot drink alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public nor disgrace the uniform or the Tomb in any way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying that they served as a guard of the Tomb. The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin. 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. He must memorize who they are and where they are interred.

A guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for duty. There are no wrinkles, folds, or lint on the uniform. The shoes have extra thick soles to protect their feet from the heat and cold. There are metal heel plates on them that make the loud click as they come to a halt. His gloves are moistened to prevent him losing his grip on the rifle. He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the Tomb. After he marches 21 steps across the path in front of the Tomb, he executes an about face and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder. There he hesitates for 21 seconds before beginning his return walk. 21 steps and 21 seconds allude to the twenty-one gun salute. The guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.

In 2003, as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington, DC, the soldiers assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment because of the dangers from the hurricane. They respectfully declined the offer. 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 of the Unknowns has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.