tbfoster1
10-29-2004, 02:54 PM
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 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: He
>must commit 2 years
> of his life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and
>cannot drink any alcohol
>on or off duty. He cannot swear in public or disgrace the uniform
>{fighting} or the tomb in any
> way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on
>his lapel, signifying
>he served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. The
>guard must obey
>these rules for the rest of his life or give up the wreath pin.
>
> The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the
>heat and cold from his feet.
> There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order
>to make the loud
>click as he comes to a halt. There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the
>uniform.
>The guard dresses for duty in front of a full-length mirror.
>
> During 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
>uniform ready for guard duty.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 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.
>
>
>
>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 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: He
>must commit 2 years
> of his life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and
>cannot drink any alcohol
>on or off duty. He cannot swear in public or disgrace the uniform
>{fighting} or the tomb in any
> way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on
>his lapel, signifying
>he served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. The
>guard must obey
>these rules for the rest of his life or give up the wreath pin.
>
> The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the
>heat and cold from his feet.
> There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order
>to make the loud
>click as he comes to a halt. There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the
>uniform.
>The guard dresses for duty in front of a full-length mirror.
>
> During 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
>uniform ready for guard duty.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 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.
>