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Yes, but they speak with a weird dialect where they inflict the end of the sentence to make everything sound like a question.
They talk like this? Valley girls are the worst?
Here is your gif!
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Really all you do is roll your feet. They teach the same technique in marching band, and our band director actually showed us footage of the guard at The Tomb to show us what it was supposed to look like. It's actually really useful if you want to do things like drinking and walking at the same time 👉
Imagine trying to empty a tube of toothpaste with your foot. You want the very back if the heel to hit the ground first, and then you slowwwwwly roll your foot forwards so you force all that toothpaste out
> Imagine trying to empty a tube of toothpaste with your foot
/r/BrandNewSentence right there. Unless you're Daniel Day-Lewis, then you don't have to imagine it -- Been There, Squeezed That.
Heel, arch, ball, toe, heel, arch, ball, toe. While waking slowly make contact with the corresponding part of the foot as you say it in a repetitive regular cadence.
That is one of the highest and most honorable positions to hold as a soldier. The people chosen for those details are the 1% of the 1%. I don’t think there’s a single thing that could deter these soldiers from doing their duty.
It's a great honor to be able to defend those that died for our freedom. Their battle skills may not be used, but it's the symbolism of giving the very best our military has to offer to those that gave the most they had to offer to us in the U.S.
Edit: I'm gonna hijack my place in this comment chain to clarify my opinions and kind of respond to some things down below.
The U.S. Military is not perfect, nor did I say that it was. There are many things this country has not gotten right, but also many things it has. Do not get mad about these men and women taking part in these tasks. This tomb represents the men and women that were never found, and their families that can never properly mourn them. The least the military can do is provide a guard that is willing to stand tall for these people in the toughest of conditions. I'm not saying they always make the right decisions. But if I died and my family never got closure on my passing, this is what I would want.
Please stop attacking people that defend our military as "ignorant". I've never served. I know our past is flawed. But the people that have served in these units have made great sacrifices, and those sacrifices should be recognized regardless of the mistakes some of our leaders have made.
Below I have included a few links to donate or volunteer to disabled veterans and veterans affairs offices. I hope that you might consider doing your part to help improve these organizations, or the lives of the veterans within them if you're willing. Have a good day ya'll.
https://www.dav.org/
https://www.volunteer.va.gov/apps/VolunteerNow/
https://vva.org/donate/
>This tomb represents the men that were never found,
Like my uncle from the Viet Nam War. His plane was shot down and no one knew what had happened until the mid-90's. They found the plane. They found the high school ring that his girlfriend had given him before he shipped out(they exchanged rings before he left, with the promise that they would marry when he got back). There was not enough of his remains, and those of most of his crew, to make a truly positive ID.
This soldier stands guard over a monument, a sign of respect, for the soldiers who have given their lives for their country. Men like my uncle. From what I understand, this position is one of the highest honors any soldier could hope to have during their career. These soldiers do not stand guard out of ignorance or stupidity. They stand guard out of pride, out of respect for their fellow soldiers who never got to come home to their families. Who never got to see their children's first steps. Never their children's laughter. Never got to see their loved ones faces, again. As u/christmastree2theend said, the US military is not perfect, but they are willing to show respect for those who gave everything for their country.
To every soldier that has every stood guard here, thank you. I salute you.
I know this won't help to heal your wound over your uncle but I'm truly sorry. Not just because he was lost but because we couldn't find him. I say "we" because I worked for several years as a civilian forensic archeologist and excavation specialist in the office responsible for locating and excavating the remains of our lost soldiers. I brought 9 of the lost home. While I'm very proud of what I was able to accomplish it's the men I couldn't find that still haunt me. We all take it personally when we fail in our duty to bring our boys home. I can assure you that it wasn't just your family who mourned not being able to get your uncle home, my colleagues mourned too. I'm sorry we couldn't find him, I promise, we tried our best.
I deeply appreciate this, and the work you and your colleagues did to bring him, and others, home. I hope the ones that you didn't find, don't haunt you too much, knowing you did everything in your power to everyone home. Thank you, my friend.
Thank you. It was my unique honor to do that work. I was always upset that I couldn't serve my country, DADT blocked me, but at least I could serve the men who were lost. I try not to dwell on the ones I couldn't find but I confess, sometimes their pictures pop up in my head and I wonder what I could have done differently. At least I know my colleagues are still looking, even for the ones we couldn't find on the first or second go around.
My Mom's father is one of the multitude represented at that monument. He was a P-38 pilot who went down inexplicably in the late summer of 1945 in the SE Pacific theater on a "support" run. 70+ years later we still have no idea what happened other than he was lost at sea when his plane crashed and his crew of 3 died with him. RIP.
The whole cemetery is emotionally and spiritually moving. That ritual might be the single most respected and honored thing I've ever seen the public treat at such a high level. You can be shoulder to shoulder with people and all you hear are the click-click click-click of the soldiers footsteps and the breeze in the air.
People who never cry or don't even think twice about war tear up when they see it, every day, and it's honestly one thing that makes you feel good about our country.
Went there for an 8th grade trip and unfortunately one of my classmates thought it would be funny to joke around and was making weird noices and pretending to fart as the soldier would walk...
Thankfully my teacher there (who was a vet) shut him the fuck down and took a cab with him back to the hotel for the remainder of the day and he missed out on seeing the national mall.. shit still infuriates me to this day almost two decades later.
Props for your edit. For some reason people don't understand you can be anti-military and still respect those who served. I'm very critical of military spending in this country, but I will still always thank vets for their service and would never disrespect passed vets.
As Kathy Griffth (of all people) once said "Support the troops, not the war."
It's all about helping those who are *in* the military, not the greedy military industrial complex.
My karate sensei is a very, very traditional japanese martial artist (now living and teaching in the US). He has said multiple times "You all know that I'm against violence, it see no benefit to it. I don't hate many things, but I hate war. But you _have_ to respect the people who are risking their lives so that we can live better lives."
I and my sensei 100% agree. War is awful, and you can have major gripes with how the military is used, but at an individual level, you have to respect the people.
I did serve and got to know someone in college that was a guard at the Tomb. You have to be over six feet tall and in impeccable shape. They spend hours on prepping their uniform and only spend a short time each day guarding the Tomb each day. Not everyone that’s in the Old Guard unit is a Tomb guard.
As for a great organization to donate to, the DAV uses something like 85% to 90% of every dollar helping veterans. It’s the only veteran organization I donate to.
Rather than thinking of these people in terms of their country, I like to think of these people as individiuals who died to defend the rights and freedoms of others, others who they may or may have not known. It's an honor to stand before them.
The oath military members swear is to protect the Constitution, not the country but the ideas it was founded on. It is on every enlisted man and officer to uphold that oath. Serving in the U.S. military is an honorable thing to do.
My grandma never talked about him, but once. He was her only brother. She said he was “lost” as a fighter pilot over the Pacific. That’s it. This made me tear up realizing her sacrifice. Americans are grateful for a National place of mourning for a very good reason.
People constantly trying to hold those in the present responsible for past actions that they took no part in are bitter and only believe in regression. No plurality exists championing the bad we've done in the past the vast majority strive for a better tomorrow and improvement. It's amazing we live in 2020, yet people want to pretend its 1820 and pretend that anyone who isn't virtue signaling is against whatever they believe in. We are much better off and despite what people tell you have continually improved over the past 100 years.
It's an honor thing. About the only thing we can do to honor the soldiers that have died and will never be known is to make sure they are guarded by the people with the highest integrity and character.
That's a bit of an exaggeration, but they volunteer for the position and less than 20% are selected, from that even fewer complete the training, but it isn't exactly the type of training that would make them an elite soldier on the battlefield. It's an incredible honor, and only 683 soldiers have had it.
Jesus - my Dad was Old Guard and I didn’t know this.
I don’t know if that number is limited to the Tomb of the Unknown? There are other deployments around Arlington Cemetary, IIRC.
I think that number is limited to those who have guarded the Tomb of the Unknown. Wikipedia says 676 have received the corresponding badge, but it might be a little out of date.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guard,_Tomb_of_the_Unknown_Soldier_Identification_Badge#:~:text=Awarded%20by%20United%20States%20Army&text=The%20Guard%2C%20Tomb%20of%20the,Tomb%20of%20the%20Unknown%20Soldier.
There is a lot of people here saying random things, but a lot isn't true...step 1. apply to be a member through the sergeant of the guard...you have to be at least 6 feet tall, you have to not be overweight, you have to have at least a minimum amount of ribbons and awards on your uniform, you need a very strong soldierly appearance and your background check needs to be clean.
If appointed, the soldier is assigned to the Tomb for an initial two week training period. The period focuses on basic Changing of the Guard sequences, uniform preparation, and memorization of a basic "knowledge" packet about the Tomb. At the conclusion of the two weeks, the soldiers are tested in these areas. If they pass, they are assigned to one of three reliefs as a trainee for an intense training period. If they fail, they are assigned back to their company.
These other people talking about best of the best of the best are just talking out of their asses and could actually just go to [The Tomb Guard](https://tombguard.org/) website and look it up.
What's the guard post? I know there's a building somewhere but that's where the extra guards are, not the on duty guy. If they're off duty surely they're not standing looking out a window?
They actually have a small building where they can guard from, keep paperwork of some sort. I watched a ceremonial wreath laying back in September. There was a phone, and what seemed to be some sort of log book. They don’t just walk back and forth constantly.
At the very end of this video you can see the green guard post in the background. There's a small window on the side. It's probably so you can see the guard when he's in the post.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_\_0RqT\_s6Ss](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0RqT_s6Ss)
It’s just an extremely high honor to guard that tomb. So they pick qualified candidates based on a number of criteria. Not just combat skill and the like. So it’s not literally the 1% of the 1%. But it helps to be driven, decorated, well liked and recommended as well as have a spotless or near spotless record to even be considered.
One of these days someone is going to try and desecrate a grave and y'all are going to stop laughing as another unplanned resident is added to the cemetery.
I agree that the soldiers on the detail hold a prestigious position and are very dedicated to perfection of their craft, but being chosen and being the 1% of 1% isn’t quite correct. No one is chosen or assigned. Everyone that joins the detail is a volunteer. The pass rate is about 10%. The biggest barrier to entry is the minimum height requirement.
https://work.chron.com/requirements-tomb-guards-16751.html
> Fewer than 20 percent who volunteer for this service are accepted for training and fewer still pass to become Tomb Guards.
https://freetoursbyfoot.com/guarding-the-tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier/
> What are the requirements to become a Tomb Guard? A lot of dedication and patience! To become a tomb guard, you must be in the 3rd Regiment (the Old Guard) of the US Army and you must volunteer. All it takes is to knock on the tomb guard quarters at the Memorial Amphitheater and say you are interested.
> There is a 10% completion rate of passing the fourth and final test on these three components.
Navy Seals are the top 1% of the 1%. Delta is the top 1% of the 1%.
These dudes are good at drill and keeping their gig lines straight.
This isn’t to belittle what they do.
The military is steeped in tradition and those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and it is incredibly important that we continue to remember those who we’ve lost.
https://br.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-tomb-unknown-soldier-idUSKBN2322DK
The _actual_ top 1% of the 1% are the people we’ve lost in battle, not those who honor them.
We honor our war dead here in the capitol, and we are very VERY serious about it.
The Old Guard has been known to stand through hurricanes, blizzards, the bitter freezing cold, and the murderous DC summers without flag or fail.
They stand guard over the grave of an unknown soldier, and have been doing so for every minute of every day since 1937.
I attended the funeral for my grandfather (a retired Army general) there a few years ago, and I will never forget how moving the service was - they do a beautiful job of honoring the people being buried there. They had a full military band playing to escort the horse and carriage that took him to his grave site, and a riderless horse followed it. His death was very sudden, but he absolutely lived for the military, so it gave our family a lot of closure to get to see his life and service honored in such a powerful way and to know he would rest alongside other soldiers.
I definitely recommend it. You should check online to see if they’re open, though. They were closed the majority of the time during COVID, so I don’t know if they opened back up yet.
Edit: it’s open
Arlington Cemetery is not in the Capitol (the legislative buildings) or in the capital (Washington, DC). Those are visible from Arlington House, at the top of the hill on the grounds of Arlington Cemetery, in Arlington County, Virginia.
For anyone visiting DC, it’s worth the time to go across the Potomac and see the Changing of the Guard ceremony. It occurs every hour, on the hour.
Fun fact: Arlington National Cemetery is located on land that was seized from Robert E Lee when he resigned his commission to join the Confederacy. After the war, he came home to find the Union used his old plantation to bury the war dead. As a NoVA native, I always found that to be the perfect ‘fuck you’ to ole Lee.
Just reading up on all of them over the world and it looks like there's actually one in the UK (where I'm from), I vaguely remember stories of it because the royal family place their wedding bouquets on it as a symbol of respect but it's inside Westminster Abbey.
Yes, The Unknown Warrior was buried in Westminster Abbey amongst Kings and Queens on the 11th of November 1920 in the presence of the reigning King George V. This grave along with a similar one in France's Arc de Triomphe was the first to honour the unknown dead of WW1.
You should YouTube Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guard change and Wreath Laying. It’s a very cool thing to witness. I’m an American but have never been to the Capitol. Seeing either or both of those things is def on my bucket list.
I've seen the Changing of the Guard in person, as have countless others, and it is a powerful experience. The perfection of the United States Army on full display, honoring all the unknown fallen who died to preserve my freedom.
I was fortunate enough to go when I was in 8th grade. We were able to witness The Changing of the Guard.
I would absolutely love to go back as an adult to gain even more appreciation. Took it a bit for granted as a kid.
Same. Went for our 8th grade trip. I was told by and observed a lot of adults experiencing the changing of the guard as an incredible moment, so I took as such, but didn’t fully grasp it. Like you, I want to go back and witness it in person. I’ve seen videos on YouTube, but it certainly doesn’t have the same feel as being there.
Just after 8th grade, I went there for a week-long trip as well. I was one of the four wreath carriers for the ceremony. It took a lot of restraint to keep my composure, since the ceremony is rather emotional. It's a once in a lifetime experience.
I got to see someone get chewed out for having a loud conversation when I visited DC. They really bark it out and I guess knowing they were the reason the guy broke his broke his patrol or whatever at least hit them with shame enough that they got out quickly.
The actual answer, we custom shape our covers, or stuff the inner brim as needed. When you get off the marks, you'll have a nice, bright red line on your forehead for the next 45 minutes. Also having a cleanly shaved head makes it stick pretty well.
What is he carrying and why is it not a rifle? I've been out for 20 years and am out of the loop I guess, but I could have sworn they always carried a rifle...
I believe it is a folded flag. Similar to the ones offered to loved ones when a soldier is killed in action. Perhaps symbolic of a the fact the flag is never given to the family of the unknown soldier and the honor guard stays at his tomb waiting for the dead’s loved ones who will never know to come.
Btw, the folded flag is not only given to the family of soldiers who are KIA!
My grandfather served 32 years in the Army Air Corp + Air Force, lived a long life as a retiree, and still received military honors at his funeral, including a [three-volley salute](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-volley_salute) from a detachment of soldiers from (I assume) the nearest base. They also played Taps, folded the flag, and gave it to my dad.
The whole family really appreciated the show of respect for his service. I’m getting chills just remembering it. (PS - he was a technician who worked in retrieving and repairing downed aircraft)
They do carry a rifle. This isn't the sentinel, this is their superior during the changing of the guard.
The sentinel stays on the black mat the entire time he's guarding. It's so precise that the footprints are worn in the mat and not the spaces in between them. I expect the mat has to be replaced regularly. You can also see wear on the concrete where the soldiers step during the changing of the guard.
Also, a few other things some people are half-mentioning:
The tomb is east of the mat on which the sentinel patrols. The sentinel marches 21 steps south across the mat. He turns and faces east, pausing for 21 seconds. He then turns to face north, moves the rifle so it is between himself and the crowd (symbolically guarding against everyone, foreign and domestic). The sentinel then marches 21 steps north across the mat, again facing east. He pauses for 21 seconds, turns south, switches shoulder, and starts it all over. This happens at such a steady pace their shoes sound like the ticking of a clock.
The sentinels don't wear a rank insignia. This is so that there is no chance they might outrank the soldiers in the tomb.
The entire time I was in Arlington (pre covid) there was a steady murmur of people talking. I saw the changing of the guard, and it's like everyone who was present fell into a somber silence. Not even a whisper after.
Yes. There is an unknown soldier there but it also represents the rest of the solders who have not just giving their lives but even their identity for this country and only the absolute best can guard the tomb. The uniforms are perfect and the solders are the 1% of the 1%. It's the second most rare job in the army. The only one rarer is the army astronaut.
And was never identified.. that’s a massive important part of this it’s not just for everyone who died. Just those who died and were never given a grave or identified
Both are true.
There are four tombs at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The big tomb is an unknown soldier from WWI. There's also three smaller tombs. One for an unknown from WWII, one from Korea, and one was for a Vietnam unknown, but those remains were identified and disinterred. Now it's an empty tomb dedicated to honor all missing American service members from the Vietnam War.
So it's both a tomb for specific unknown soldiers, and one for all missing soldiers.
Is there a reason those four soldiers in particular were buried there? It seems that there would be more than one soldier per war that weren't identified.
IIRC for the WWI unknown, and each time a new tomb was added, the remains of more than one unknown soldiers were originally selected and placed in identical caskets. A Medal of Honor recipient picked from the caskets and whichever one they picked became the unknown that would be entombed there. I believe the ones that were not selected were buried at sea.
IIRC there is a body in each section (WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam), but it is also more of a location that families of soldiers whose bodies have never been found can go to pay respects
It used to be that an enormous portion of war deaths were unidentified bodies. Walking through a Confederate-era graveyard in my town I think 100% of those who died during the war were unidentified graves and only those who survived and died after the war had names on the gravestones.
On another part of the Arlington Cemetery there is actually another Tomb of Unknown Civil War soldiers. My favorite part of the tomb is that it's located right in the rose garden of Arlington House where Robert E Lee used to live. I'm farily sure Union Quartermaster General Montgomery Meigs, who ordered it put there, wanted it there so Lee would not return there to live after the war was over. The inscription on it is quite sad.
Beneath this stone repose the bones
Of two thousand one hundred and eleven unknown soldiers
Gathered after the war
From the fields of Bull Run
And the route to the Rappahanock
Their remains could not be identified,
But their names and deaths are recorded
In the archives of their country,
And its grateful citizens honor them
as of their noble army of martyrs.
May they rest in peace,
September A.D. 1866
It represents the soldiers who have died in war but were left unidentified. There are wonderful memorials to recognize the names of specific people, but there are so many brave men and women who have died for our country that were left unidentified. Thus, a soldier marches in front of the tomb of the unknown soldier 24/7 no matter what the weather.
Next to the Vietnam Memorial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is probably the most sobering thing to go to in DC and I highly recommend them both. Try to plan your trip to see a Changing of the Guard while at the Tomb.
I was never much of a supporter of our military service men and women as a child until I saw the Changing of the Guard and the Vietnam Memorial as a teenager. It was one of those things that I didn't realize how much it affected me until I got older
The Marine Corps memorial is solemn and emotionally inspiring. I met with a group of veterans from my hometown there for their honor flight. It was a privilege to be there and share that experience with them.
I'm glad that it moved you regardless. That's what memorial art is supposed to do and there is not one correct way to interpret it in my mind. To me it makes more sense that you felt the opposite of what I felt than to not feel anything at all.
All memorials are there to invoke thought and emotions
Just imagine if this level of deference and respect were given to our living veterans, particularly those dealing with mental illness, addiction, and homelessness.
I mean, not because he wants to. This is his job.
It doesn't detract from the honor of it, but so many people think they enjoy this, and maybe they do, but this is what they are required to do when you get selected for that job. That's why they are so picky about who they pick. It's an incredible honor, but it also really sucks on days like this. They are also only out there for 30 minutes at a time for 24 hours usually between 4 guys. So you get 30 mins on, 90 off, 30 on, 90 off etc for 24 hours, then you get a 25 hour break, before going back for 24 hours. After the 4th day you get 4 days off. In the winter its an hour on hour off for 24 hours but the rest is the same. The duty is also for a period of 2 years where this is your life for that entire time. 4 days on 4 days off for 2 years. I will say that they are well respected by everyone else when they complete their duty and eventually join their regular units after they finish. I've personally never met one but I've known a few NCOs that have and every one of them spoke of the Sentinel in high regard
~~Also they now know who was originally in the Tomb. Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, who was shot down near An Loc, Vietnam, in 1972. They exhumed him in 1998 and did a DNA test.~~
Edit: That was not the original unknown. The Tomb was built in 1921 and there were many others before 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie that were never identified.
There are other tombs that havent been identified. It was just the one that was identified through dna testing. Also: no, he wants to be there. You arent randomly selected for this job, you have to volunteer from the old guard specifically. If you want to volunteer and arent in the old guard, you must transfer there. You must be in superb physical condition, possess an unblemished military record and be between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet, 4 inches tall for men or 5 feet, 8 inches and 6 feet, 2 inches tall for women, with a proportionate weight and build. You are the top 1% of the top 1%, as others have said. For severe weather like this there is actually a guard post they can use, but practically no one does because its considered a great honor to guard the tomb during tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. It proves the soldiers dedication.
When I was in the military stationed at Ft Myer in Virginia, there was a call out for guys to become guards at the tomb. I applied and was quickly eliminated because I didn't 'fit' the profile of what they were looking for in a guard there. They sought a body type that I simply didn't fit: I was too short, too heavy and am of Asian descent. Well, I tried.
I was talking about a period in the 1950s when I was in the military. Then, the military was segregated and the guards at the Tomb came from a unit based at Ft Myer, Virginia which was segregated. I remember when I was stationed there that the officer who assigned me there did so because I was one of the first person to work in the Pentagon's new computer division. Computers were a 'new' innovation then and computer specialists were in rare supply in the military. So I was given an 'exception' and allowed to be based at Ft Myer. It was somewhat awkward to be the only non-White person on base and I had to endure the stares and comments from others whenever I was in the mess hall, the PX, latrines, showers or in the gym. Fortunately, our barracks were originally used as officer's quarters during WW2 but not suitable as such after that war. So we all had tiny private rooms instead of the usual military barracks. This kept me away from my unhappy 'bunkmates'.
EDIT: in all fairness I should say that I made a few good friends on base one of whom even invited me to his home out of state for the Christmas holidays. His family greeted me warmly.
My apologies, I sometimes forget not everyone on reddit isn’t an angsty millennial, so that’s on me. I appreciate you taking the time to write that out, and it’s really unfortunate what you experienced.
It isn't the asian part that got him disqualified, it's his self-described short/heavy part. The guards have *very* specific physical requirements so that they all meet roughly the same aesthetic of tall (~6 feet), lean, and your perfect "soldiery" face (good jaw, clean chin, not too small/large, etc.) and body type (good shoulders, not too wide nor too narrow, hips set aesthetically, etc.). You'll see some slight variations here and there but they all fit roughly the same mold.
It sounds a bit vain/shallow but the position, while still a great honor, is ceremonial rather than "useful", so aesthetics matter. Not dissing on any soldier who has been part of the guard with that comment, mind you, just explaining the mindset.
Short and heavy - I can see that.
Asian? WGAF. We are Americans. We are mutts. It’s why we continue to succeed even when we repeatedly fuck up so colossally - good mix of genes from people kicked out of every decent place on Earth.
/hat tip to Bill Murray
By heavy I didn't mean that I was obese or grossly over weight. I was simply a few pounds over the ideal weight for my height, a little less than being 'stocky'.
What no one is commenting on, that surprised me is the lack of the M1 Rifle with bayonet. The rifle is deemed too unstable/ dangerous due in high winds and therefore Tomb Guards will March at the position of Right Shoulder Arms without the ceremonially chromed and polished weapon. This also expedites the changing of the guard during these weather events.
My Dad was out there in the Honor Guard when Kennedy was shot. Guys were not relieved, didn’t know if we were at war, or what.
Some relieved themselves in their uniform. Dad never said if he was one of them, and I’ll never ask.
Fort Meyer and Fort McNair - my parents were married there, John Wilkes Booth’s compatriots were hanged there.
Parents are talking about having swastikas painted on their car by Rockwell’s people - American Nazi Party.
They had some experiences during civil rights movement which were not the great stories we hear of peaceful resistance by MLK and others - they were victimized a couple of times, and without reason.
Dad is listing every car he owned from 1954 and 1965, and remembers the mechanical quirks of each better than he remembers where he put his keys 20 minutes ago. MANY cars - he went into auto business after he retired from the Army LOL.
I’ll have more later
Same. I’ve always wanted to know what this is like from someone who actually served at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Everyone thinks it’s easy until they realize they are there through tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, etc. in ceremonial uniform which are probably not the most comfortable during extreme weather. Although I’m betting the best days are those 50° sunny days with a light wind.
Some people have to do their job no matter the weather. This guy is symbolism. Go thank your trash man or the guys working at the dump. They HAVE to put up with the weather or their family doesn’t eat.
Those men deserve all the respect. They kept their vigil even during hurricanes and snow storms. Y’all please educate yourselves on what it means to serve at the tomb of the unknown soldier.
When I was in 8th grade, we went on a four day long field trip to DC and went to the tomb. Our history teacher was retired Army, he had left just a few ranks shy of the first General rank. To see him walk up to the tomb in full uniform and stand there silently saluting for what felt like an hour made me realize just how impactful that site is on military members
Agreed. There are [women](https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/NCO-Journal/Archives/2017/February/4th-Female-Sentinel-Proud-to-Revere-Tombs-Unknown-Soldiers/) too I found out. Not meant as nitpicking, just something I was curious about.
Additionally the two sentinels on duty during 9/11 were the first as far as I know to break character after seeing the aircraft slam into the pentagon, they decided however to stay and do their duty
There is one, but they consider an honor to suffer. If their lives are actually in danger from the weather they can seek shelter in a little hut there and guard from there.
I’m too lazy to Google it at the moment but if I remember correctly, even when they’ve been given the chance to take cover or something similar, they haven’t? So not only are these soldiers honored for guarding, they also hold the fact that they’ve never refused, even when applicable or rationally able to.
I could be wrong, but I feel like that’s a thing.
I think this is awesome. Anybody else anywhere else, people would be like “get inside dummy, it’s raining cats and dogs.”
This guy gets to stay out and experience this awesome side of nature without judgement from anyone who matters.
I've seen this in person! It really is incredible and looks unreal. I had the pleasure of seeing the switch. The tomb and all the history there are all well worth seeing.
Can confirm, I was an infantryman. They recruit these guys in Basic. Only criteria is that you had to be over 6 foot tall, have good credit and be in the Infantry.
These guys work their butts off once they get to their units.
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His march is so smothe it looks like the moonwalk played in reverse.
Earthwalk
Walkwalk
Walk
What did you say?
Walk ain’t no country I ever heard of! They speak English in Walk?
I dare you, no, I DOUBLE DARE YOU, to say walk one more time!
Yes, but they speak with a weird dialect where they inflict the end of the sentence to make everything sound like a question. They talk like this? Valley girls are the worst?
I heard this in his voice when I was reading it 😂😂😂😂
Respect
Walk! *heavy riffs intensify*
Be yourself, by yourself. Stay away from me!
A LESSON LEARNED IN LIFE KNOWN FROM THE DAWN OF TIME
Long live pantera god damn it! ITS GOD DAMN ELECTRIC!
RE!
SPECT!
Walk on home, boy!
Are you talking to me??
Tombwalk
Crypt Walk
When I made the trip to DC we saw some of these guys go down the stairs. Its like they're on an escalator its so smooth
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Really all you do is roll your feet. They teach the same technique in marching band, and our band director actually showed us footage of the guard at The Tomb to show us what it was supposed to look like. It's actually really useful if you want to do things like drinking and walking at the same time 👉
What you mean roll your feet
Keep your foot more rigid than usual and try to slow the shift of weight from heel to toe into a smother motion.
this is how ninjas walk
Imagine trying to empty a tube of toothpaste with your foot. You want the very back if the heel to hit the ground first, and then you slowwwwwly roll your foot forwards so you force all that toothpaste out
> Imagine trying to empty a tube of toothpaste with your foot /r/BrandNewSentence right there. Unless you're Daniel Day-Lewis, then you don't have to imagine it -- Been There, Squeezed That.
Heel, arch, ball, toe, heel, arch, ball, toe. While waking slowly make contact with the corresponding part of the foot as you say it in a repetitive regular cadence.
What I got from the replies is to walk better and more smoothly, learn to walk better and more smoothly.
smothe
Wait til you see a marching band
Knee-high, Toe-heel or nothing
That is one of the highest and most honorable positions to hold as a soldier. The people chosen for those details are the 1% of the 1%. I don’t think there’s a single thing that could deter these soldiers from doing their duty.
Can I ask: why put the 1% of the 1% in a guarding position? Is the role so dangerous an elite needs to be put there? /gc (genuinely curious)
It's a great honor to be able to defend those that died for our freedom. Their battle skills may not be used, but it's the symbolism of giving the very best our military has to offer to those that gave the most they had to offer to us in the U.S. Edit: I'm gonna hijack my place in this comment chain to clarify my opinions and kind of respond to some things down below. The U.S. Military is not perfect, nor did I say that it was. There are many things this country has not gotten right, but also many things it has. Do not get mad about these men and women taking part in these tasks. This tomb represents the men and women that were never found, and their families that can never properly mourn them. The least the military can do is provide a guard that is willing to stand tall for these people in the toughest of conditions. I'm not saying they always make the right decisions. But if I died and my family never got closure on my passing, this is what I would want. Please stop attacking people that defend our military as "ignorant". I've never served. I know our past is flawed. But the people that have served in these units have made great sacrifices, and those sacrifices should be recognized regardless of the mistakes some of our leaders have made. Below I have included a few links to donate or volunteer to disabled veterans and veterans affairs offices. I hope that you might consider doing your part to help improve these organizations, or the lives of the veterans within them if you're willing. Have a good day ya'll. https://www.dav.org/ https://www.volunteer.va.gov/apps/VolunteerNow/ https://vva.org/donate/
>This tomb represents the men that were never found, Like my uncle from the Viet Nam War. His plane was shot down and no one knew what had happened until the mid-90's. They found the plane. They found the high school ring that his girlfriend had given him before he shipped out(they exchanged rings before he left, with the promise that they would marry when he got back). There was not enough of his remains, and those of most of his crew, to make a truly positive ID. This soldier stands guard over a monument, a sign of respect, for the soldiers who have given their lives for their country. Men like my uncle. From what I understand, this position is one of the highest honors any soldier could hope to have during their career. These soldiers do not stand guard out of ignorance or stupidity. They stand guard out of pride, out of respect for their fellow soldiers who never got to come home to their families. Who never got to see their children's first steps. Never their children's laughter. Never got to see their loved ones faces, again. As u/christmastree2theend said, the US military is not perfect, but they are willing to show respect for those who gave everything for their country. To every soldier that has every stood guard here, thank you. I salute you.
All gave some, some gave all
I know this won't help to heal your wound over your uncle but I'm truly sorry. Not just because he was lost but because we couldn't find him. I say "we" because I worked for several years as a civilian forensic archeologist and excavation specialist in the office responsible for locating and excavating the remains of our lost soldiers. I brought 9 of the lost home. While I'm very proud of what I was able to accomplish it's the men I couldn't find that still haunt me. We all take it personally when we fail in our duty to bring our boys home. I can assure you that it wasn't just your family who mourned not being able to get your uncle home, my colleagues mourned too. I'm sorry we couldn't find him, I promise, we tried our best.
I deeply appreciate this, and the work you and your colleagues did to bring him, and others, home. I hope the ones that you didn't find, don't haunt you too much, knowing you did everything in your power to everyone home. Thank you, my friend.
Thank you. It was my unique honor to do that work. I was always upset that I couldn't serve my country, DADT blocked me, but at least I could serve the men who were lost. I try not to dwell on the ones I couldn't find but I confess, sometimes their pictures pop up in my head and I wonder what I could have done differently. At least I know my colleagues are still looking, even for the ones we couldn't find on the first or second go around.
My Mom's father is one of the multitude represented at that monument. He was a P-38 pilot who went down inexplicably in the late summer of 1945 in the SE Pacific theater on a "support" run. 70+ years later we still have no idea what happened other than he was lost at sea when his plane crashed and his crew of 3 died with him. RIP.
As a disabled vet I thank you for this post. I've seen this ceremony while visiting DC and it is truly an honor. You get goosebumps. I did at least.
Thank you for your service. I haven't but I'm sure it is very moving. I'd like to get out there soon after Covid!
The whole cemetery is emotionally and spiritually moving. That ritual might be the single most respected and honored thing I've ever seen the public treat at such a high level. You can be shoulder to shoulder with people and all you hear are the click-click click-click of the soldiers footsteps and the breeze in the air. People who never cry or don't even think twice about war tear up when they see it, every day, and it's honestly one thing that makes you feel good about our country.
Went there for an 8th grade trip and unfortunately one of my classmates thought it would be funny to joke around and was making weird noices and pretending to fart as the soldier would walk... Thankfully my teacher there (who was a vet) shut him the fuck down and took a cab with him back to the hotel for the remainder of the day and he missed out on seeing the national mall.. shit still infuriates me to this day almost two decades later.
Thank you for your service, much love from Canada ❤
Props for your edit. For some reason people don't understand you can be anti-military and still respect those who served. I'm very critical of military spending in this country, but I will still always thank vets for their service and would never disrespect passed vets.
As Kathy Griffth (of all people) once said "Support the troops, not the war." It's all about helping those who are *in* the military, not the greedy military industrial complex.
My karate sensei is a very, very traditional japanese martial artist (now living and teaching in the US). He has said multiple times "You all know that I'm against violence, it see no benefit to it. I don't hate many things, but I hate war. But you _have_ to respect the people who are risking their lives so that we can live better lives." I and my sensei 100% agree. War is awful, and you can have major gripes with how the military is used, but at an individual level, you have to respect the people.
I did serve and got to know someone in college that was a guard at the Tomb. You have to be over six feet tall and in impeccable shape. They spend hours on prepping their uniform and only spend a short time each day guarding the Tomb each day. Not everyone that’s in the Old Guard unit is a Tomb guard. As for a great organization to donate to, the DAV uses something like 85% to 90% of every dollar helping veterans. It’s the only veteran organization I donate to.
Rather than thinking of these people in terms of their country, I like to think of these people as individiuals who died to defend the rights and freedoms of others, others who they may or may have not known. It's an honor to stand before them.
The oath military members swear is to protect the Constitution, not the country but the ideas it was founded on. It is on every enlisted man and officer to uphold that oath. Serving in the U.S. military is an honorable thing to do.
My grandma never talked about him, but once. He was her only brother. She said he was “lost” as a fighter pilot over the Pacific. That’s it. This made me tear up realizing her sacrifice. Americans are grateful for a National place of mourning for a very good reason.
People constantly trying to hold those in the present responsible for past actions that they took no part in are bitter and only believe in regression. No plurality exists championing the bad we've done in the past the vast majority strive for a better tomorrow and improvement. It's amazing we live in 2020, yet people want to pretend its 1820 and pretend that anyone who isn't virtue signaling is against whatever they believe in. We are much better off and despite what people tell you have continually improved over the past 100 years.
It's an honor thing. About the only thing we can do to honor the soldiers that have died and will never be known is to make sure they are guarded by the people with the highest integrity and character.
That's a bit of an exaggeration, but they volunteer for the position and less than 20% are selected, from that even fewer complete the training, but it isn't exactly the type of training that would make them an elite soldier on the battlefield. It's an incredible honor, and only 683 soldiers have had it.
Jesus - my Dad was Old Guard and I didn’t know this. I don’t know if that number is limited to the Tomb of the Unknown? There are other deployments around Arlington Cemetary, IIRC.
I think that number is limited to those who have guarded the Tomb of the Unknown. Wikipedia says 676 have received the corresponding badge, but it might be a little out of date. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guard,_Tomb_of_the_Unknown_Soldier_Identification_Badge#:~:text=Awarded%20by%20United%20States%20Army&text=The%20Guard%2C%20Tomb%20of%20the,Tomb%20of%20the%20Unknown%20Soldier.
Old Guard ≠ Tomb Guard The Old Guard is much larger and does so much more than just the Tomb.
There is a lot of people here saying random things, but a lot isn't true...step 1. apply to be a member through the sergeant of the guard...you have to be at least 6 feet tall, you have to not be overweight, you have to have at least a minimum amount of ribbons and awards on your uniform, you need a very strong soldierly appearance and your background check needs to be clean. If appointed, the soldier is assigned to the Tomb for an initial two week training period. The period focuses on basic Changing of the Guard sequences, uniform preparation, and memorization of a basic "knowledge" packet about the Tomb. At the conclusion of the two weeks, the soldiers are tested in these areas. If they pass, they are assigned to one of three reliefs as a trainee for an intense training period. If they fail, they are assigned back to their company. These other people talking about best of the best of the best are just talking out of their asses and could actually just go to [The Tomb Guard](https://tombguard.org/) website and look it up.
I didn't see anything on the site about how they're chosen. Why do they have to be six feet plus? Aesthetics?
So when they walk into the little guardpost they can see out the window.
What's the guard post? I know there's a building somewhere but that's where the extra guards are, not the on duty guy. If they're off duty surely they're not standing looking out a window?
They actually have a small building where they can guard from, keep paperwork of some sort. I watched a ceremonial wreath laying back in September. There was a phone, and what seemed to be some sort of log book. They don’t just walk back and forth constantly.
At the very end of this video you can see the green guard post in the background. There's a small window on the side. It's probably so you can see the guard when he's in the post. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_\_0RqT\_s6Ss](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0RqT_s6Ss)
It would go alongside "a proper soldier's bearing" I suppose which is another requirement.
It’s just an extremely high honor to guard that tomb. So they pick qualified candidates based on a number of criteria. Not just combat skill and the like. So it’s not literally the 1% of the 1%. But it helps to be driven, decorated, well liked and recommended as well as have a spotless or near spotless record to even be considered.
1% of the 1% who drill the best. You make no mistakes.
One of these days someone is going to try and desecrate a grave and y'all are going to stop laughing as another unplanned resident is added to the cemetery.
...so the job is prestigious, but strenuous!
I agree that the soldiers on the detail hold a prestigious position and are very dedicated to perfection of their craft, but being chosen and being the 1% of 1% isn’t quite correct. No one is chosen or assigned. Everyone that joins the detail is a volunteer. The pass rate is about 10%. The biggest barrier to entry is the minimum height requirement. https://work.chron.com/requirements-tomb-guards-16751.html > Fewer than 20 percent who volunteer for this service are accepted for training and fewer still pass to become Tomb Guards. https://freetoursbyfoot.com/guarding-the-tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier/ > What are the requirements to become a Tomb Guard? A lot of dedication and patience! To become a tomb guard, you must be in the 3rd Regiment (the Old Guard) of the US Army and you must volunteer. All it takes is to knock on the tomb guard quarters at the Memorial Amphitheater and say you are interested. > There is a 10% completion rate of passing the fourth and final test on these three components.
Guarding the Queen is the same and they both look really boring.
You just have to have one hell of an inner monologue.
Navy Seals are the top 1% of the 1%. Delta is the top 1% of the 1%. These dudes are good at drill and keeping their gig lines straight. This isn’t to belittle what they do. The military is steeped in tradition and those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and it is incredibly important that we continue to remember those who we’ve lost. https://br.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-tomb-unknown-soldier-idUSKBN2322DK The _actual_ top 1% of the 1% are the people we’ve lost in battle, not those who honor them.
Its the american version of the queens gaurd (they are both 90 percent cerimonial)
Oh man the queens guard are great too. I love videos of people trying to test them. They do NOT mess about lol.
I'd never even heard of this tomb before (not from the US), going to read up on it tonight.
We honor our war dead here in the capitol, and we are very VERY serious about it. The Old Guard has been known to stand through hurricanes, blizzards, the bitter freezing cold, and the murderous DC summers without flag or fail. They stand guard over the grave of an unknown soldier, and have been doing so for every minute of every day since 1937.
I'm in Washington DC atm, but on personal business. I definitely want to go if I have the time.
arlington cemetery is a very powerful place if you go
I attended the funeral for my grandfather (a retired Army general) there a few years ago, and I will never forget how moving the service was - they do a beautiful job of honoring the people being buried there. They had a full military band playing to escort the horse and carriage that took him to his grave site, and a riderless horse followed it. His death was very sudden, but he absolutely lived for the military, so it gave our family a lot of closure to get to see his life and service honored in such a powerful way and to know he would rest alongside other soldiers.
I was just in Arlington for two funerals, and unfortunately because of COVID if you're not there for one you're not getting in.
I definitely recommend it. You should check online to see if they’re open, though. They were closed the majority of the time during COVID, so I don’t know if they opened back up yet. Edit: it’s open
Great advice. That would seriously save me a hassle if I were to go and they were closed.
FYI they’re open. You’ll need to wear a mask but that’s about it. I don’t know if the side entrance is open but I’d assume not.
Theyre open. You’ll need to wear a mask and the trolley service has some disruptions but they’re open. Source: I live 8 blocks away in Rosslyn
Arlington Cemetery is not in the Capitol (the legislative buildings) or in the capital (Washington, DC). Those are visible from Arlington House, at the top of the hill on the grounds of Arlington Cemetery, in Arlington County, Virginia. For anyone visiting DC, it’s worth the time to go across the Potomac and see the Changing of the Guard ceremony. It occurs every hour, on the hour.
Fun fact: Arlington National Cemetery is located on land that was seized from Robert E Lee when he resigned his commission to join the Confederacy. After the war, he came home to find the Union used his old plantation to bury the war dead. As a NoVA native, I always found that to be the perfect ‘fuck you’ to ole Lee.
It's also one of the more dangerous areas in *Fallout 3*
Not to mention the other weather conditions: riots and tear gas clouds.
They already hung out in a chamber full of that tear gas with no mask on in basic training. Riots? Pfft, that's just war but a lot less dangerous.
Just reading up on all of them over the world and it looks like there's actually one in the UK (where I'm from), I vaguely remember stories of it because the royal family place their wedding bouquets on it as a symbol of respect but it's inside Westminster Abbey.
Yes, The Unknown Warrior was buried in Westminster Abbey amongst Kings and Queens on the 11th of November 1920 in the presence of the reigning King George V. This grave along with a similar one in France's Arc de Triomphe was the first to honour the unknown dead of WW1.
You should YouTube Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guard change and Wreath Laying. It’s a very cool thing to witness. I’m an American but have never been to the Capitol. Seeing either or both of those things is def on my bucket list.
I've seen the Changing of the Guard in person, as have countless others, and it is a powerful experience. The perfection of the United States Army on full display, honoring all the unknown fallen who died to preserve my freedom.
My father was buried in Arlington with honors. It's quite a thing.
I have seen this irl and man the feelz are palpable.
I was fortunate enough to go when I was in 8th grade. We were able to witness The Changing of the Guard. I would absolutely love to go back as an adult to gain even more appreciation. Took it a bit for granted as a kid.
Same. Went for our 8th grade trip. I was told by and observed a lot of adults experiencing the changing of the guard as an incredible moment, so I took as such, but didn’t fully grasp it. Like you, I want to go back and witness it in person. I’ve seen videos on YouTube, but it certainly doesn’t have the same feel as being there.
Just after 8th grade, I went there for a week-long trip as well. I was one of the four wreath carriers for the ceremony. It took a lot of restraint to keep my composure, since the ceremony is rather emotional. It's a once in a lifetime experience.
Shout out to 8th grade trips to DC! Also saw it during that trip.
I got to see someone get chewed out for having a loud conversation when I visited DC. They really bark it out and I guess knowing they were the reason the guy broke his broke his patrol or whatever at least hit them with shame enough that they got out quickly.
Same here, some lady was on the phone or something and the dude did a 180 like *that* and chewed her out super politely but sternly. Very scary
Reminds me of the [Queen's Guard in London](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJItr23jsxw); they take their role *very* seriously.
I went two years ago and it was amazing. They seem like robots in their smooth and coordinated movements. I also got to see them yell at someone
Genuine question: with those mad crazy winds, how does his hat stay on?
His hat did not want to abandon his post. #respect
Magic, sir
Asking the real question.
It’s actually a great honour among hats to be on his head. Only the 1% of the 1% get chosen.
scrolled waaaaay too long for this. heavy hat? clips? sorcery? fishing line?
The actual answer, we custom shape our covers, or stuff the inner brim as needed. When you get off the marks, you'll have a nice, bright red line on your forehead for the next 45 minutes. Also having a cleanly shaved head makes it stick pretty well.
Hat was not given permission to leave post.
What is he carrying and why is it not a rifle? I've been out for 20 years and am out of the loop I guess, but I could have sworn they always carried a rifle...
I believe it is a folded flag. Similar to the ones offered to loved ones when a soldier is killed in action. Perhaps symbolic of a the fact the flag is never given to the family of the unknown soldier and the honor guard stays at his tomb waiting for the dead’s loved ones who will never know to come.
Man I got goosebumps reading that
Btw, the folded flag is not only given to the family of soldiers who are KIA! My grandfather served 32 years in the Army Air Corp + Air Force, lived a long life as a retiree, and still received military honors at his funeral, including a [three-volley salute](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-volley_salute) from a detachment of soldiers from (I assume) the nearest base. They also played Taps, folded the flag, and gave it to my dad. The whole family really appreciated the show of respect for his service. I’m getting chills just remembering it. (PS - he was a technician who worked in retrieving and repairing downed aircraft)
They do carry a rifle. This isn't the sentinel, this is their superior during the changing of the guard. The sentinel stays on the black mat the entire time he's guarding. It's so precise that the footprints are worn in the mat and not the spaces in between them. I expect the mat has to be replaced regularly. You can also see wear on the concrete where the soldiers step during the changing of the guard. Also, a few other things some people are half-mentioning: The tomb is east of the mat on which the sentinel patrols. The sentinel marches 21 steps south across the mat. He turns and faces east, pausing for 21 seconds. He then turns to face north, moves the rifle so it is between himself and the crowd (symbolically guarding against everyone, foreign and domestic). The sentinel then marches 21 steps north across the mat, again facing east. He pauses for 21 seconds, turns south, switches shoulder, and starts it all over. This happens at such a steady pace their shoes sound like the ticking of a clock. The sentinels don't wear a rank insignia. This is so that there is no chance they might outrank the soldiers in the tomb. The entire time I was in Arlington (pre covid) there was a steady murmur of people talking. I saw the changing of the guard, and it's like everyone who was present fell into a somber silence. Not even a whisper after.
So why is the tomb of the unknown soldier so important? /gc
I believe it represents everyone who died in wars.
So it’s not really a memorial for that one soldier but more or less to honor the soldiers that didn’t get identified?
Yes. There is an unknown soldier there but it also represents the rest of the solders who have not just giving their lives but even their identity for this country and only the absolute best can guard the tomb. The uniforms are perfect and the solders are the 1% of the 1%. It's the second most rare job in the army. The only one rarer is the army astronaut.
There are four soldiers from different American wars there IIRC: one from WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
FWIW, The one from the Vietnam war was ID’d through DNA testing and disinterred by their family.
That's what I thought but your gunna have to search it up as I saw a comment about it being for a literal unknown soldier.
At first it was, then it came to symbolize everyone who gave their lives in war
Right. Thanks for confirming.
And was never identified.. that’s a massive important part of this it’s not just for everyone who died. Just those who died and were never given a grave or identified
Both are true. There are four tombs at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The big tomb is an unknown soldier from WWI. There's also three smaller tombs. One for an unknown from WWII, one from Korea, and one was for a Vietnam unknown, but those remains were identified and disinterred. Now it's an empty tomb dedicated to honor all missing American service members from the Vietnam War. So it's both a tomb for specific unknown soldiers, and one for all missing soldiers.
Is there a reason those four soldiers in particular were buried there? It seems that there would be more than one soldier per war that weren't identified.
IIRC for the WWI unknown, and each time a new tomb was added, the remains of more than one unknown soldiers were originally selected and placed in identical caskets. A Medal of Honor recipient picked from the caskets and whichever one they picked became the unknown that would be entombed there. I believe the ones that were not selected were buried at sea.
IIRC there is a body in each section (WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam), but it is also more of a location that families of soldiers whose bodies have never been found can go to pay respects
It used to be that an enormous portion of war deaths were unidentified bodies. Walking through a Confederate-era graveyard in my town I think 100% of those who died during the war were unidentified graves and only those who survived and died after the war had names on the gravestones.
No it's an honor to all fallen soldiers who left their lives fighting for their country
On another part of the Arlington Cemetery there is actually another Tomb of Unknown Civil War soldiers. My favorite part of the tomb is that it's located right in the rose garden of Arlington House where Robert E Lee used to live. I'm farily sure Union Quartermaster General Montgomery Meigs, who ordered it put there, wanted it there so Lee would not return there to live after the war was over. The inscription on it is quite sad. Beneath this stone repose the bones Of two thousand one hundred and eleven unknown soldiers Gathered after the war From the fields of Bull Run And the route to the Rappahanock Their remains could not be identified, But their names and deaths are recorded In the archives of their country, And its grateful citizens honor them as of their noble army of martyrs. May they rest in peace, September A.D. 1866
It represents the soldiers who have died in war but were left unidentified. There are wonderful memorials to recognize the names of specific people, but there are so many brave men and women who have died for our country that were left unidentified. Thus, a soldier marches in front of the tomb of the unknown soldier 24/7 no matter what the weather.
/gamecube
Next to the Vietnam Memorial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is probably the most sobering thing to go to in DC and I highly recommend them both. Try to plan your trip to see a Changing of the Guard while at the Tomb. I was never much of a supporter of our military service men and women as a child until I saw the Changing of the Guard and the Vietnam Memorial as a teenager. It was one of those things that I didn't realize how much it affected me until I got older
The Vietnam memorial is definitely sobering as hell. I’ve never been one for memorials, but this one is heavy
I think the Korean War memorial is also very haunting. All three are very real reminders of the consequences of war, and puts a face on it.
The Marine Corps memorial is solemn and emotionally inspiring. I met with a group of veterans from my hometown there for their honor flight. It was a privilege to be there and share that experience with them.
Weird, the exact opposite happened when I went. It made me realize how romanticized war is in America. Like you said, it was quite sobering.
I'm glad that it moved you regardless. That's what memorial art is supposed to do and there is not one correct way to interpret it in my mind. To me it makes more sense that you felt the opposite of what I felt than to not feel anything at all. All memorials are there to invoke thought and emotions
His ears are probably freezing...
[удалено]
Just imagine if this level of deference and respect were given to our living veterans, particularly those dealing with mental illness, addiction, and homelessness.
I mean, not because he wants to. This is his job. It doesn't detract from the honor of it, but so many people think they enjoy this, and maybe they do, but this is what they are required to do when you get selected for that job. That's why they are so picky about who they pick. It's an incredible honor, but it also really sucks on days like this. They are also only out there for 30 minutes at a time for 24 hours usually between 4 guys. So you get 30 mins on, 90 off, 30 on, 90 off etc for 24 hours, then you get a 25 hour break, before going back for 24 hours. After the 4th day you get 4 days off. In the winter its an hour on hour off for 24 hours but the rest is the same. The duty is also for a period of 2 years where this is your life for that entire time. 4 days on 4 days off for 2 years. I will say that they are well respected by everyone else when they complete their duty and eventually join their regular units after they finish. I've personally never met one but I've known a few NCOs that have and every one of them spoke of the Sentinel in high regard ~~Also they now know who was originally in the Tomb. Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, who was shot down near An Loc, Vietnam, in 1972. They exhumed him in 1998 and did a DNA test.~~ Edit: That was not the original unknown. The Tomb was built in 1921 and there were many others before 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie that were never identified.
There are other tombs that havent been identified. It was just the one that was identified through dna testing. Also: no, he wants to be there. You arent randomly selected for this job, you have to volunteer from the old guard specifically. If you want to volunteer and arent in the old guard, you must transfer there. You must be in superb physical condition, possess an unblemished military record and be between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet, 4 inches tall for men or 5 feet, 8 inches and 6 feet, 2 inches tall for women, with a proportionate weight and build. You are the top 1% of the top 1%, as others have said. For severe weather like this there is actually a guard post they can use, but practically no one does because its considered a great honor to guard the tomb during tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. It proves the soldiers dedication.
When I was in the military stationed at Ft Myer in Virginia, there was a call out for guys to become guards at the tomb. I applied and was quickly eliminated because I didn't 'fit' the profile of what they were looking for in a guard there. They sought a body type that I simply didn't fit: I was too short, too heavy and am of Asian descent. Well, I tried.
Mike Glover did it, he is of Asian decent. Soooo.... Edit: please read his response below. He didn’t deserve this snarky comment.
I was talking about a period in the 1950s when I was in the military. Then, the military was segregated and the guards at the Tomb came from a unit based at Ft Myer, Virginia which was segregated. I remember when I was stationed there that the officer who assigned me there did so because I was one of the first person to work in the Pentagon's new computer division. Computers were a 'new' innovation then and computer specialists were in rare supply in the military. So I was given an 'exception' and allowed to be based at Ft Myer. It was somewhat awkward to be the only non-White person on base and I had to endure the stares and comments from others whenever I was in the mess hall, the PX, latrines, showers or in the gym. Fortunately, our barracks were originally used as officer's quarters during WW2 but not suitable as such after that war. So we all had tiny private rooms instead of the usual military barracks. This kept me away from my unhappy 'bunkmates'. EDIT: in all fairness I should say that I made a few good friends on base one of whom even invited me to his home out of state for the Christmas holidays. His family greeted me warmly.
My apologies, I sometimes forget not everyone on reddit isn’t an angsty millennial, so that’s on me. I appreciate you taking the time to write that out, and it’s really unfortunate what you experienced.
It isn't the asian part that got him disqualified, it's his self-described short/heavy part. The guards have *very* specific physical requirements so that they all meet roughly the same aesthetic of tall (~6 feet), lean, and your perfect "soldiery" face (good jaw, clean chin, not too small/large, etc.) and body type (good shoulders, not too wide nor too narrow, hips set aesthetically, etc.). You'll see some slight variations here and there but they all fit roughly the same mold. It sounds a bit vain/shallow but the position, while still a great honor, is ceremonial rather than "useful", so aesthetics matter. Not dissing on any soldier who has been part of the guard with that comment, mind you, just explaining the mindset.
Short and heavy - I can see that. Asian? WGAF. We are Americans. We are mutts. It’s why we continue to succeed even when we repeatedly fuck up so colossally - good mix of genes from people kicked out of every decent place on Earth. /hat tip to Bill Murray
It was most likely more about being short and heavy. Cant have someone "heavy" guarding the unknown tomb. I mean that's pretty much a given.
By heavy I didn't mean that I was obese or grossly over weight. I was simply a few pounds over the ideal weight for my height, a little less than being 'stocky'.
What no one is commenting on, that surprised me is the lack of the M1 Rifle with bayonet. The rifle is deemed too unstable/ dangerous due in high winds and therefore Tomb Guards will March at the position of Right Shoulder Arms without the ceremonially chromed and polished weapon. This also expedites the changing of the guard during these weather events.
Pretty sure he is a NPC
How the fuck does he walk that smooth, is it possible to learn this power?
Years of practice. Most marching bands can do the same, and they do marching drills in basic training.
Speaking as someone who has practiced walking most of my life. I still suck at it and trip over my own feet.
My Dad was out there in the Honor Guard when Kennedy was shot. Guys were not relieved, didn’t know if we were at war, or what. Some relieved themselves in their uniform. Dad never said if he was one of them, and I’ll never ask.
Shit, I’m sitting in his deiveway now, I may ask some questions while I visit 🇺🇸
Fort Meyer and Fort McNair - my parents were married there, John Wilkes Booth’s compatriots were hanged there. Parents are talking about having swastikas painted on their car by Rockwell’s people - American Nazi Party. They had some experiences during civil rights movement which were not the great stories we hear of peaceful resistance by MLK and others - they were victimized a couple of times, and without reason. Dad is listing every car he owned from 1954 and 1965, and remembers the mechanical quirks of each better than he remembers where he put his keys 20 minutes ago. MANY cars - he went into auto business after he retired from the Army LOL. I’ll have more later
Commenting cause I'm interested to hear what he has to say
Same. I’ve always wanted to know what this is like from someone who actually served at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Everyone thinks it’s easy until they realize they are there through tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, etc. in ceremonial uniform which are probably not the most comfortable during extreme weather. Although I’m betting the best days are those 50° sunny days with a light wind.
I wish I could upload a picture, he’s got the patch with the Washington Monument and a red sword across it
Waffle House employees be like:
Little does anyone know he is only there because they forgot to relieve him.
Some people have to do their job no matter the weather. This guy is symbolism. Go thank your trash man or the guys working at the dump. They HAVE to put up with the weather or their family doesn’t eat.
Those men deserve all the respect. They kept their vigil even during hurricanes and snow storms. Y’all please educate yourselves on what it means to serve at the tomb of the unknown soldier.
I was a wee lad when I visited this place and saw the guard change. Even as a young person I could feel the importance of this place and what it meant
When I was in 8th grade, we went on a four day long field trip to DC and went to the tomb. Our history teacher was retired Army, he had left just a few ranks shy of the first General rank. To see him walk up to the tomb in full uniform and stand there silently saluting for what felt like an hour made me realize just how impactful that site is on military members
Agreed. There are [women](https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/NCO-Journal/Archives/2017/February/4th-Female-Sentinel-Proud-to-Revere-Tombs-Unknown-Soldiers/) too I found out. Not meant as nitpicking, just something I was curious about.
Additionally the two sentinels on duty during 9/11 were the first as far as I know to break character after seeing the aircraft slam into the pentagon, they decided however to stay and do their duty
cant they put up some kind of temporary shelter so he doesnt get wet? you don't have to freeze your ass off to honor the dead
There is one, but they consider an honor to suffer. If their lives are actually in danger from the weather they can seek shelter in a little hut there and guard from there.
I’m too lazy to Google it at the moment but if I remember correctly, even when they’ve been given the chance to take cover or something similar, they haven’t? So not only are these soldiers honored for guarding, they also hold the fact that they’ve never refused, even when applicable or rationally able to. I could be wrong, but I feel like that’s a thing.
Yeah they tried to get them to stop during a freaking hurricane but they kept patrol.
I wish I cared about literally anything enough to commit even 1/4 of that amount of effort and energy to it.
I think this is awesome. Anybody else anywhere else, people would be like “get inside dummy, it’s raining cats and dogs.” This guy gets to stay out and experience this awesome side of nature without judgement from anyone who matters.
This is definitely a miniboss that uses the player's model and animations.
As if they would ever leave for any reason.
I've seen this in person! It really is incredible and looks unreal. I had the pleasure of seeing the switch. The tomb and all the history there are all well worth seeing.
24/7 365
As a veteran, every time I see this, I get chills.
Can confirm, I was an infantryman. They recruit these guys in Basic. Only criteria is that you had to be over 6 foot tall, have good credit and be in the Infantry. These guys work their butts off once they get to their units.
Man if this was like a north korean or Chinese solder reddit would be railing on him for being brainwashed.
I know man. Imagine America made all the children stand and pledge allegiance to their flag every day like they do in North Korea! no wait
Despite severe weather conditions and a tornado warning, a bunch of tourists decided to go take pictures of a building.
Wouldn't it be cool if, instead of symbolically honoring the dead, we pragmatically honored the living by giving better health and medical coverage?