Today we remember the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and give thanks to the dedicated Tomb Guards serving to protect it.
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier serves as a symbolic grave for all war dead whose remains have not been found or identified.
The Tomb began with one unknown service member from World War I, and today is the grave of three unidentified service members. Its meaning has evolved to represent the memory of all military members throughout American history.
Soldiers were first assigned to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 1926, to discourage visitors from climbing or stepping on it. In 1937, the guards became a 24/7 presence, standing watch over the Unknown Soldier at all times.
Snow, sleet, heat, wind and rain, they never give up the guard.
The changing of the guard takes months to perfect but only minutes to perform. The routine is characterized by practiced precision performed by sentinels who are members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard.” There has been a sentinel on duty in front of the Tomb every minute of every day since 1937.
Soldiers who volunteer to become Tomb Guards undergo a strict selection process and intensive training. Each element of the routine has meaning, with the number 21 repeated to represent the highest symbolic military honor that can be bestowed: the 21-gun salute.
