Tomb of the Unknown Soldier – Interesting Facts

Just when you think you know it all you realize you don't know much...like in my case!  Hey, I'm no rocket scientist nor do I hold a Ph.d. [unless you count Post Hold Digger] in History but there are some things that every American should know and this is one of those times.  If you don't know much about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or the Society of the Honor Guard that watches over the tomb you can find a great source of information on the official web page. This post today is just on some interesting facts that you may or may not know. I found them fascinating, because most that circulate the internet are not true.

Just The Facts

• Every guard takes 21 seconds to make each pass. {True but much more to it.  He does not execute an about face. He stops on the 21st step, then turns and faces the Tomb for 21 seconds. Then he turns to face back down the mat, changes his weapon to the outside shoulder, counts 21 seconds, then steps off for another 21 step walk down the mat. He faces the Tomb at each end of the 21 step walk for 21 seconds. The Sentinel then repeats this over and over until he is relieved at the Guard Change.}

• Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year. {The Guard is changed every thirty minutes during the summer (April 1 to Sep 30) and every hour during the winter (Oct 1 to Mar 31). During the hours the cemetery is closed, the guard is changed every 2 hours. The Tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In fact, there has been a Sentinel on duty in front of the Tomb every minute of every day since 1937.}

• 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. {True but there is more to it. Those who know can tell what shift is just by size.  1st Relief 6'2" to 6'4"/2nd Relief 6' to 6'2"/3rd Relief 5'11" to 6'}

• They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb. {False. The average tour at the Tomb is about a year. There is NO set time for service}

• They must live in a barracks under the tomb and can't drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives. {False. The Sentinels live either in a barracks on Ft. Myer (the Army post located adjacent to the cemetery) or off base if they like. They do have quarters under the steps of the amphitheater where they stay during their 24 hour shifts, but when they are off, they are off. If they are of legal drinking age they may do so but not while on duty.}

• They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and can't disgrace the uniform or the tomb in any way. {False.  Of course they can't disgrace their uniform but when they are off duty they can swear like sailors in any bar or pub they want as long as they are of legal age etc.}

• After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served asguard 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. {False. The Tomb Guard Identification Badge is awarded after the Sentinel passes a special test,not something simply handed out to everyone who serves for a given period of time. The Badge is permanently awarded after a Sentinel has served 9 months as a Sentinel at the Tomb. Currently there are 525 awarded. And while the Badge can be revoked, the offense must be very severe, such as a felony conviction. But you can drink a beer and even swear and still keep the Badge. And the Badge is a full size award, worn on the right pocket of the uniform jacket, not a lapel pin.}

• Their 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. {False.  The shoes are standard issue military dress shoes. They are built up so the sole and heel are equal in height. This allows the Sentinel to stand so that his back is straight and perpendicular to the ground.  The soles have a steel tip on the toe and a "horseshoe" steel plate on the heel. This prevents wear on the sole.  Then there is the "clicker". It is a shank of steel attached to the inside of the face of the heel build-up on each shoe. It allows the Sentinel to click his heels during certain movements.}

• 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.  {False.  The truth is that they have so much to learn and memorize they don't have much time for anything else like TV but it is not forbidden.}

• Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.  {False.  It usually takes up to 8 hours to get their uniform ready for their next shift.}