Honor Guard

Quotes:

In order to deserve, we must pay our dues and steadily work for perfection. We must relish in struggle, and relinquish pride. We must dispel fear and seek enlightenment. We must shun division and honor love. We must know our hearts and seek to understand others. We must try, live, create, feel, grow and love. – Bryant McGill

II Timothy 2:3-5

Monday the 18th I spent the day at Arlington National cemetery in Arlington, Vagina. Each time I go to Washing DC (this was my 3rd time) I visit different places, with that said; each time I always go to Arlington. We spent this day somberly walking through the cemetery of over 400,000 honored dead. We spent time at the burning flame at J. F. K.’s grave; we stood in silent reverence at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier.

Three soldiers who paid the ultimate price for our great country whose identity is unknown are enshrined in the Tomb of the Unknowns; one from WWI, one from WWII and one from the Korean War. A forth from the Vietnam Conflict was interred there in 1984, but later investigations revealed the soldier's identity (Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie. His remains were shipped to his home town in Missouri in 1998), and his remains were removed.

I have the utmost respect for these soldiers and their commitment to duty and honor.

The Sentinel’s Creed

My dedication to this sacred duty is total and whole-hearted. In the responsibility bestowed on me never will I falter. And with dignity and perseverance my standard will remain perfection. Through the years of diligence and praise and the discomfort of the elements, I will walk my tour in humble reverence to the best of my ability. It is he who commands the respect I protect, his bravery that made us so proud. Surrounded by well meaning crowds by day, alone in the thoughtful peace of night, this soldier will in honored glory rest under my eternal vigilance. - Simon 1971

Creed all Tomb Guards learn. Inscribed on a plaque by the entrance to the quarters; Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

The Vigil

In measured steps he makes in rounds. The click of heels the only sounds. He stands erect so straight and tall, With pride and dedication responds to the call. With deep affection his vigil keeps,

Over those who forever sleep.

He responds not to the visitors stare, Maintaining his vigil as if in silent prayer. In the morning’s twilight hours, His watch becomes like cathedral towers. Reaching from earth to heaven above, A lasting tribute to one man’s love.

As time and seasons come and go, His vigil remains for all to know.

That beneath the sacred Arlington sod, Lies three buddies KNOWN BUT TO GOD.

(Dedicated to my cousin, SSG John Gallagher, US Army Special Forces, killed in action January 5, 1968, Republic of Vietnam, and to the men who guard the Tombs of the Unknowns.) J.R.

Carved on the Tomb are symbols which are commemorative of

Victory, Valor and Peace.

The guard while engaged in his duty executes 21 steps and pauses for 21 seconds alluding to a twenty-one gun salute; the highest honor given to any military or foreign dignitary, even a king.

His gloves moistened to prevent losing his grip at any time on the rifle.

He carries his rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb to indicate to whom he is guarding.

The Tomb has been guarded every second of every minute or every hour of every day of every year since 1937.

“Winter 1967”

They shine there shoes 4 hours a day. There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. They pull 24 hour shifts. They endure strict inspections during their duty shift that can cause them to change in and out of their uniform 23 times.

Recently, during hurricane Isabel the Regimental Commander of the U.S. Third Infantry sent word to the nighttime Sentry Detail to secure the post and seek shelter from the high winds, to ensure their personal safety. THEY DISOBEYED THE ORDER and stayed their post.

To date about 600 valiant Sentinels have received the honor of wearing the Tomb Badge.

Only 1 in 10 is able to complete the program.

They shin their Tomb Badge equally on the front and the back (even though no will ever see the back of it).

Joshua 4:1-9 “1- And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, 2- Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, 3- And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night. 4- Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: 5- And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: 6- That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? 7- Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever. 8- And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. 9- And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.”