Our Haunted Travels
  • Travel Blog
  • About
  • Locations Visited
  • Social Network
  • Patreon
  • YTPromo
  • Store
  • PANICd
  • Tech

Changing of the Guard - Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers

11/1/2019

Comments

 
Picture
In July of 2013, we traveled to Washington, D.C. and made out way over to Arlington National Cemetery.   We had the privilege to witness the "Changing of the Guard" Ceremony while we were there.  
Picture
We did capture some video during this event, and was able to put together a video documenting the ceremony.   If you have never witnessed this before, you will be amazed by the following video.
The tomb guards are soldiers of the United States Army. The first military guards were troopers from the 3rd Cavalry, "Brave Rifles", who were posted nearby on Fort Myer. Since April 6, 1948, (known then as "Army Day"), when the regiment was reactivated, it has been guarded by soldiers from 3rd Infantry Regiment, "The Old Guard". The Old Guard is also posted to Fort Myer, Virginia, adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery. It is considered one of the highest honors to serve as a Sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Fewer than 20 percent of all volunteers are accepted for training and of those only a fraction pass training to become full-fledged Tomb Guards.

The soldier "walking the mat" does not wear rank insignia, so as not to outrank the Unknowns, whatever their ranks may have been. Non-commissioned officers (usually the Relief Commander and Assistant Relief Commanders), do wear insignia of their rank when changing the guard only. They have a separate uniform (without rank) that is worn when they actually guard the Unknowns or are "posted."

The duties of the sentinels are not purely ceremonial. The sentinels will confront people who cross the barriers at the tomb or whom they perceive to be disrespectful or excessively loud.
Picture
There is a meticulous routine that the guard follows when watching over the graves.  The tomb guard:

  1. Marches 21 steps south down the 63-foot-long (19 m) black mat laid across the Tomb.
  2. Turns and faces east, toward the Tomb, for 21 seconds.
  3. Turns and faces north, changes weapon to outside shoulder, and waits 21 seconds.
  4. Marches 21 steps down the mat.
  5. Turns and faces east for 21 seconds.
  6. Turns and faces south, changes weapon to outside shoulder, and waits 21 seconds.
  7. Repeats the routine until the soldier is relieved of duty at the Changing of the Guard.

After each turn, the guard executes a sharp "shoulder-arms" movement to place the weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors to signify that the guard stands between the Tomb and any possible threat.

Out of respect for the interred, the sentinels command silence at the tombs. If the guard walking the mat must vocally confront a disturbance from spectators, or a threat, the routine is interrupted, and remains so until the disturbance is under control. The sentinel will exit the mat, place the weapon in port arms position, and confront the disturbance. Once under control, the sentinel then walks on the pavement to the other side of the mat, turns to shoulder arms, and resumes the routine from the point of interruption.

Twenty-one was chosen because it symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed--the 21-gun salute.

The mat is usually replaced twice per year: before Memorial Day and before Veterans Day. This is required because of the wear on the rubber mat by the special shoes worn by tomb guards. The sentinels have metal plates built into the soles and inner parts of their shoes to allow for a more rugged sole and to give the signature click of the heel during maneuvers. The sentinels wear sunglasses because of the bright reflection from the marble surrounding the Tomb and the Memorial Amphitheater.

On the ground not covered by the mat, a rust pattern in the tile can be seen that corresponds to the precise steps taken during the changing of the guard. The metal from the guards' boots causes the brown rust markings on the stone. On the mat itself, footprints caused by standing guard are also visible.
Picture
Please let us know down in the comments if you have witnessed this ceremony before, or if you would like to attend it sometime in the future.

Comments
    Subscribe
    Picture

    Find out more about Shawn and Marianne Donley on our About Page.

    Become a Patron!
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    1893 Columbian World's Fair
    Antietam
    Bars And Pubs
    Benjamin Franklin
    Bridges
    Cemeteries
    Chicago
    Christmas
    Churches
    Civil War
    Dallas
    Fall River
    Famous Graves
    Field Hospitals
    Folkore And Legends
    Forensic And Science
    Forts
    George Washington
    Gettysburg
    Gettysburg Address
    Ghost Hunting 201
    Ghost Stories
    Ghost Tours
    Greenfield Village
    Harpers Ferry
    Haunted Or Historical Artifacts
    Henry Ford
    H.H. Holmes
    Historic
    History And Informational
    Hospital Or Nursing Homes
    Hotels & Inns
    Interesting Finds
    Interviews
    Investigations
    Jefferson
    Jeff Mudgett
    John F. Kennedy
    Key West
    Lighthouses
    Lincoln
    Lizzie Borden
    Los Angeles
    Mahoning Valley
    Maratime
    Medical History
    Memorials
    Memphis
    Miami
    Mothman
    Museums
    National Park Service
    National Registry Of Historic Places
    Oddities
    Paranormal Conferences
    Paranormal Topics And Discussions
    Parks
    Philadelphia
    Point Pleasant
    Presidents
    President's Homes
    Prisons Or Jails
    Puerto Rico
    Recipes
    Research
    Reviews
    San Diego
    Schools
    Ships
    Star Barn
    St. Augustine
    Tarverns And Inns
    Theaters
    Thomas Edison
    Tragedy Or Disasters
    Train Stations
    Travel Tips
    True Crime
    Virginia
    Vlogs And Trip Updates
    Washington D.C.
    Waterfalls



    Archives

    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    July 2016
    April 2015
    March 2015
    November 2012
    October 2012
    May 2012
    November 2008

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    FOLLOW OUR REVIEWS
    Picture
    FOLLOW OUR REVIEWS
    Picture
    FOLLOW OUR REVIEWS
    Affiliate links: This site is supported in part by Amazon associate links. Commissions are earned though qualifying purchases made through Amazon links presented on this site.

We would love to have you follow along with Our Haunted Travels...
Please stop back soon!


Email

PANICDVIDEOS@GMAIL.COM
Picture
  • Travel Blog
  • About
  • Locations Visited
  • Social Network
  • Patreon
  • YTPromo
  • Store
  • PANICd
  • Tech