Posted on 08/27/2011 5:35:00 PM PDT by r-q-tek86
Neither rain nor sleet nor Hurricane Irene will prevent soldiers from standing sentry at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery.
Though most businesses, shops, and government offices will be closed, not even the hurricane expected to hit the Washington area this weekend—and its roughly 85-miles-per-hour winds—will keep the guards from their duty.
“The tomb has been guarded continuously since 1948,” said Maj. John Miller, a spokesman for the Old Guard, the Army unit that patrols the place. “There’s been severe in the past. There will be severe weather in the future. We have contingency plans.”
-snip-
Tradition has dictated that the tomb remain guarded at all times. There has been at least one soldier watching over the tomb since the Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment took over the mission a few years after the end of World War II. A sentinel is present 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, including holidays.
When it rains, the guard stands under a green nylon tent that’s used for wreath-laying ceremonies to shield him from the inclement weather. As the winds start to pick up Saturday afternoon and into Sunday, he will then, if necessary, move into what’s known as the “Memorial Display Room,” essentially a marble enclosure that holds plaques and other honoraria dedicated to the unknown soldiers. From there, the guard will have “a continual line of sight on the tomb,” Miller said.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
BO will put a stop to this, he’s killed just about every other tradition.
Yup.
Exactly what I expected.
God bless our troops!
Exactly what I was thinking. I’m shocked he’s letting the tradition continue. Remember the speech Michelle gave about ‘changing our traditions’?
God bless em...but those guys are always pretty skinny...may want to break out a few thick fellas for Hurricane duty :)
God bless these soldiers - I’m on the ground in this area and know that the weather here just isn’t THAT bad. We’ve had worse. There is NO way that this tradition should be suspended for this. NO way. Any choice to do so gives you some idea of the mindset of the “powers that be”. My prayers are with the soldiers on this guard duty - our weather is going to be terrible. These soldiers are going to be marching in terrible conditions. But this honestly isn’t some sort of “big one” that would justify abandoning the tradition. If you want to say that it’s time to get rid of it, that’s fine, but this isn’t the excuse. Not even close.
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
All non-essential gov’t employees will have the day off. Especially BO.
God bless them, indeed.
Ever see it when some tourist screws up during the changing of the guard?
Youtube has several videos of it.
I don't think they have any "thick fellas." All the Guardians have to have 30" waists. No more.
Glad we still have men like these.
All the Guardians have to have 30” waists. No more. >>>
that’s skinny
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