On July 2, 1937, a 24 hour guard was mounted for the first time at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery, in Virginia near Washington DC. Since April 6, 1948, the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) has guarded the Tomb 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The sentinel does not wear any rank insignia, which ensures that the guard is junior in rank to whoever is buried in the tomb.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a neoclassical, white marble sarcophagus that stands atop a hill overlooking Washington, D.C. Since 1921, it has provided a final resting place for one of America’s unidentified World War I service members, and Unknowns from later wars were added in 1958 and 1984.
Submitted by: Michael Embrey, USAF Veteran.
DeKalb American Legion Historian.
Click Here To Submit A News Tip Or Story