This is absolutely amazing.  I had no idea. Read the whole thing very interesting......

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 hesitate after his about face to begin his return walk and why?

21 seconds for the same reason as in number 1.


3.  Why are his gloves wet?

 

His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing 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?

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 to two years to guard the tomb, live in barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on
or off duty for 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 anyway. 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 heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt.

There no wrinkles, folds, or lint on the uniform.  Guards dress for duty in full of a full-length mirror. 

The first six months of duty the 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 Audrey 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.

In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington, DC, our US Senate/House took two 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.

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 and keep them.

I thought this was very interesting and that all Americans should read this.


I agree with this tribute to the fighting men of America....