The first 24-hour guard was posted on midnight, July 2, 1937. The 3rd United States Infantry Regimen (The Old Guard) took over the duty in 1948 and the Tomb of the Unknowns has been guarded continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, since that time.  The tomb guards will be doing this all day today and all night tonight while Sandy batters the Tomb with 90 mph winds. The soldier walks 21 steps across the Tomb. This alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest honor given to any military or foreign dignitary in America. His weapon is always on the shoulder opposite the Tomb (i.e., on the side of the gallery watching the ritual). On the 21st step, the soldier turns and faces the Tomb for 21 seconds. The soldier then turns to face the other way across the Tomb and changes his weapon to the outside shoulder. After 21 seconds, the first step is repeated. Image from September 2012: First Army Division East/Facebook. Photo has since been removed. via TombGuard.org & spotted  on theatlantic

The first 24-hour guard was posted on midnight, July 2, 1937. The 3rd United States Infantry Regimen (The Old Guard) took over the duty in 1948 and the Tomb of the Unknowns has been guarded continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, since that time. 

The tomb guards will be doing this all day today and all night tonight while Sandy batters the Tomb with 90 mph winds.

  1. The soldier walks 21 steps across the Tomb. This alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest honor given to any military or foreign dignitary in America. His weapon is always on the shoulder opposite the Tomb (i.e., on the side of the gallery watching the ritual).
  2. On the 21st step, the soldier turns and faces the Tomb for 21 seconds.
  3. The soldier then turns to face the other way across the Tomb and changes his weapon to the outside shoulder.
  4. After 21 seconds, the first step is repeated.

Image from September 2012: First Army Division East/Facebook. Photo has since been removed.

via TombGuard.org & spotted  on theatlantic

(via politico)

Source: peterfeld

3,043 notesShowHide

  1. littleonne reblogged this from frankfuhrmeister
  2. netinago410 reblogged this from peterfeld
  3. affiance15 reblogged this from emiloss
  4. fake-a-smile-lovely reblogged this from smorab11
  5. silenttinsoldier reblogged this from discoverynews
  6. ddtulosbasu reblogged this from joanhollowayharris
  7. jacquelin-krystal reblogged this from blessingsofliberty
  8. blessingsofliberty reblogged this from dudeistlibertarian
  9. insidewarp reblogged this from arw126kc135
  10. onefiftyeight reblogged this from thesoundofthursday
  11. thesoundofthursday reblogged this from themightynarwhal
  12. noticeablygeese reblogged this from thisistheeventhorizon
  13. der-ubermensch reblogged this from picturesofwar
  14. slimchancenarrowescape reblogged this from politico and added:
    For anyone who’s never been to Arlington, GO. It’s incredible, and the changing of the guard at the Tomb…something about...
  15. ponderingpenguins reblogged this from freyjas
  16. devon2615 reblogged this from discoverynews
  17. stupidkindofbrilliant reblogged this from haltherobot
  18. sleepyinsomnia reblogged this from discoverynews
  19. annabelhastings reblogged this from politico
  20. she-likes-to-wander reblogged this from jackofspades007
  21. katiethekid reblogged this from bl-i-nd
  22. bl-i-nd reblogged this from theatlantic
  23. the-napoleonic-ginger reblogged this from mattrenez
  24. amandatheangrygirl reblogged this from picturesofwar
  25. vulcanmusic reblogged this from discoverynews
  26. pignewtons reblogged this from cucumberbatchin
  27. smilethatmuchmore reblogged this from uwuc
  28. washday reblogged this from loving-traveling
  29. burgerphone reblogged this from sweetiewolfie