Something to really think about.

[Tom Earp]

Arlington Cemetery

On Jeopardy the other night, the final question was How many
steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns

All three missed it --- 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 or smoke 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 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.

[whiteandblack]

that type of tenacity and discipline is astounding!

[Drolefille]

I think the second part is an urban legend. They are very admirable though.

[honeychile]

According to Snopes.com, the Honor Guard at Arlington National Cemetery did indeed keep duty during Hurricane Isabelle:

http://www.snopes.com/military/isabel.htm
http://www.snopes.com/military/unknown.asp

Although there are a lot of limits to their services, they are permitted to talk (somewhat) during their training. There was a marvelous program on the Honor Guard on either the History Channel or A&E, following a few men throughtout their service. Just prior to Memorial Day, they go to every grave in Arlington, place a flag, salute it for a designated amount of time, and then move to the next one.

[DeltAlum]

The soldiers who guard the Unknowns are from the Third US Infantry Regiment, also known as "The Old Guard."

Here is some more information and some pictures:

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/thirdinf.htm

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

The soldiers who guard the Unknowns are from the Third US Infantry Regiment, also known as "The Old Guard."

AKA the "Third Herd". While their role is largely ceremonial, they are still very much an active infantry regiment and perform field exercises. Other units in the Army have a not-so-subtle dig on the Old Guard: "... it's a fine outfit - for the infantry!"

They're also the only unit in the Army that marches with fixed bayonets.

However, the Old Guard (also named "the President's own") is not just the Tomb Guard - they're but one platoon in the 3rd Infantry Regiment. (There's a 3rd Infantry Division ("The Rock of the Marne") but they're not related - the 'Third Herd' is older.) The Old Guard also has a fife and drum corps that dress in Revolutionary War uniforms and a traveling drill team, but most of the soldiers assigned to the Old Guard perform burial details at Arlington and military escorts to the President during ceremonial events.

I recommend also reading the book Gardens of Stone by Nicholas Proffitt. It's a well-written story about life in the Old Guard during the Vietnam War. It was also made into a movie in 1987, directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

[Tom Earp]

Thanks Scott.

Awesome info from You and DeltAlum.

I have seen them in action at the Tomb and is something to behold and stand in awe of the Men/Women that The Tomb represents.

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by AlphaSigOU

AKA the "Third Herd".

OK, I was wondering if anyone would be tacky enough to mention that stuff.

Just kidding.

Great book. I don't think the movie lived up to it.

[xo_kathy]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Arlington Cemetery

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.

One of our founders is buried in Arlington...I have to figure out why...

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally Posted by xo_kathy

One of our founders is buried in Arlington...I have to figure out why...

She's buried at Arlington probably because her husband was in the military. The burial requirements for Arlington are much stricter now than they used to be, since ground burial space is very limited.

Below are the requirements for ground burial at Arlington:

The persons specified below are eligible for ground burial in Arlington National Cemetery. The last period of active duty of former members of the Armed Forces must have ended honorably. Interment may be casketed or cremated remains.

1. Any active duty member of the Armed Forces (except those members serving on active duty for training only).
2. Any veteran who is retired from active military service with the Armed Forces.
3. Any veteran who is retired from the Reserves is eligible upon reaching age 60 and drawing retired pay; and who served a period of active duty (other than for training).
4. Any former member of the Armed Forces separated honorably prior to October 1, 1949 for medical reasons and who was rated at 30% or greater disabled effective on the day of discharge.
5. Any former member of the Armed Forces who has been awarded one of the following decorations:
   1. Medal of Honor
   2. Distinguished Service Cross (Navy Cross or Air Force Cross)
   3. Distinguished Service Medal
   4. Silver Star
   5. Purple Heart
6. The President of the United States or any former President of the United States.
7. Any former member of the Armed Forces who served on active duty (other than for training) and who held any of the following positions:
   1. An elective office of the U.S. Government
   2. Office of the Chief Justice of the United States or of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
   3. An office listed, at the time the person held the position, in 5 USC 5312 or 5313 (Levels I and II of the Executive Schedule).
   4. The chief of a mission who was at any time during his/her tenure classified in Class I under the provisions of Section 411, Act of 13 August 1946, 60 Stat. 1002, as amended (22 USC 866) or as listed in State Department memorandum dated March 21, 1988.
8. Any former prisoner of war who, while a prisoner of war, served honorably in the active military, naval, or air service, whose last period of military, naval or air service terminated honorably and who died on or after November 30, 1993. <LI class=body>The spouse, widow or widower, minor child, or permanently dependent child, and certain unmarried adult children of any of the above eligible veterans.
9. The widow or widower of:
   1. a member of the Armed Forces who was lost or buried at sea or officially determined to be missing in action.
   2. a member of the Armed Forces who is interred in a US military cemetery overseas that is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
   3. a member of the Armed Forces who is interred in Arlington National Cemetery as part of a group burial.
   4. The surviving spouse, minor child, or permanently dependent child of any person already buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
   5. The parents of a minor child, or permanently dependent child whose remains, based on the eligibility of a parent, are already buried in ANC. A spouse divorced from the primary eligible, or widowed and remarried, is not eligible for interment.
10. Provided certain conditions are met, a former member of the Armed Forces may be buried in the same grave with a close relative who is already buried and is the primary eligible.

These are the requirements for inurnment in the Columbarium (for cremated remains):

The following persons are eligible for inurnment in the Columbarium. The last period of active duty (other than for training) of former members of the Armed Forces must have ended honorably.

1. Any member of the Armed Forces who dies on active duty.
2. Any former member of the Armed Forces who is retired from active duty.
3. Any former member of the Armed Forces who served on active duty (other than for training).
4. Any member of a Reserve Component of the Armed Forces who dies while he/she is..
   1. 1. On active duty for training or performing full-time service under Title 32, United States Code.
      2. Performing authorized travel to or from that duty or service.
      3. On authorized inactive duty training including training performed as a member of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard (23 USC 502).
      4. Hospitalized or being treated at the expense of the United States for injury or disease incurred or contracted while he/she is on that duty or service, performing that travel or inactive duty training, or undergoing that hospitalization or treatment at the expense of the United States.
      5. Any member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps of the Army, Navy, or Air Force whose death occurs while he/she is...
      6. Attending an authorized training camp.
      7. On an authorized practice cruise.
      8. Performing authorized travel to or from that camp or cruise.
      9. Hospitalized or receiving treatment at the expense of the United States for injury or disease incurred while attending camp or cruise, performing that travel, or receiving that hospitalization or treatment at the expense of the United States.
5. Any citizen of the United States who, during any war in which the United States has been engaged, served in the Armed Forces of any government allied with the United States during that war; whose last service ended honorably by death or otherwise; and who was a citizen of the United States at the time of entry into that service and at the time of death.
6. Certain commissioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (formerly United States Coast and Geodetic Survey).
7. Certain commissioned officers of the US Public Health Service.
8. Spouses and minor and certain adult children of those eligible above.
9. Any person eligible for ground burial.
10. A former member of a group that has been certified as active military service for the purpose of receiving VA benefits under the provisions of Section 401, Public Law 95-202.

[f8nacn]

They do show a great deal of discipline...

[Kevin]

By any of our organizations' standards, they're being hazed.

[honeychile]

Isn't the government trying to or in the process of buying an additional 300 or 3,000 acres to add to Arlington? Either I read it somewhere, or someone in the Navy told me something on that line.

[whiteandblack]

Originally Posted by ktsnake

By any of our organizations' standards, they're being hazed.

interesting.

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Isn't the government trying to or in the process of buying an additional 300 or 3,000 acres to add to Arlington? Either I read it somewhere, or someone in the Navy told me something on that line.

They already acquired the land where the Navy Annex next to the Pentagon was located. Not much land though.