Twenty-one steps south. Face east 21 seconds. Face north 21 seconds. Twenty-one steps north. Face east 21 seconds. Face south 21 seconds. Repeat until relieved.
Thus is the meticulous routine performed by the select few chosen for the honor of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located in Arlington National Cemetery, just outside of Washington, D.C. These Tomb Guard Sentinels, elite volunteer members of the U.S. Army's 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, watch the Tomb 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, rain or shine -- and have done so for almost 80 years.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was constructed in 1921, after Congress approved the burial of an unidentified U.S. soldier from World War I, with other Unknowns interred since. The Tomb has been guarded year-round continuously since 1937, when the first 24-hour guards were posted. Since April 1948, sentinels from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as the "Old Guard," have been watching over the hallowed memorial.
The above video shows a complete changing of the guard ceremony edited together from three different ceremonies all recorded on May 20, 2015. To watch the video at full resolution, be sure to choose the 4K option in the YouTube player.
The video was shot and produced by Justin Scuiletti. Special thanks to Arlington National Cemetery and Sgt. 1st Class Nicolas Morales for helping in the production of this video.
VIDEO HERE (9 minutes)
For a history of the 1st Unknown, and the WW-1 heroes who brought him home,
ReplyDeleteThe Unkowns by Patrick K O'donnell
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The background noise in the video are planes taking off from very nearby Reagan Airport
ReplyDeleteI admire that level of training and competence . I worked high steel and heavy lifting and that was the only kind of guy I kept around me . Best be some oil on that white glove . Better be clean oil too .
ReplyDeleteThey use water on the gloves according to a few web sites.
DeleteI am fortunate to have seen this ceremony when I was a kid in the mid 70s. Still very moving for the soul
ReplyDeleteI saw it in 1981 passing through the US as I returned home after three years in the UK. Pretty darn slick. Loved the US as it was then and would like to return to selected parts.
DeleteI've been meaning to comment. Watch the video by all means and then know you never ever want any of these guys in your line or leg outfit. They epitomize, "work it may, shine it must". You don't come off an indoc tour like that and just revert to a basic combat wombat.
ReplyDeleteI never tire of watching this.
ReplyDeleteBeen to Arlington many times. Very humbling to walk thru.
ReplyDeleteNot far from the famous tomb, is the tomb of the unknown Confederate Solider.
Perfection. Actors who play soldiers in movies should watch to learn how to salute.
ReplyDeleteHey, you deleted my comment. Gawd Bless the new 'merica and the neu 'mericans in it.
ReplyDeleteWho would die for that?