 Tomb of the Unknowns - Interesting thing
Got this in an e-mail and thought it was pretty interesting:
This is interesting – you may have seen all or part of it before, but being the 4th weekend, it is worth a review.
Happy 4th of July to everyone.
>This is interesting. Did you know.......
>
>This must take a special kind of person.
>
>
>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 on
>or off duty or the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public for the
>rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} 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.
>
>I don't know if you saw this in the news but it really impressed me.
>
>Funny, our US Senate/House took 2 days off as they couldn't work because of
>the expected storm.
>
>On the ABC evening news, it was reported tonight that, because of the
>dangers from Hurricane Isabelle approaching Washington DC, 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.
>
>I don't usually suggest that many emails be forwarded, but I'd be very proud
>if this one reached as many as possible.
>
>We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter
>where they serve.
>
>God Bless them.
__________________
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