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Learn about the soldiers who stand guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, their selection, training, duties and traditions. Find out how the Tomb Guard Platoon is organized, what are the different levels of responsibility and how to support the Society of the Honor Guard.
- They don’t wear rank insignia for a reason. Unlike every American soldier, sailor, airman or Marine, the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier do not wear rank insignia on their coats when guarding the tomb.
- The Tomb Guard Badge is the 3rd least awarded badge in the Army. In third place behind the Military Horseman Identification Badge and the Astronaut Badge, acquiring the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Guard Identification Badge is not just rare, it’s incredibly difficult.
- It’s not a job, it’s a lifestyle. This is not just a lifestyle in the way that the Army life is a different way of life. When serving as a Tomb Guard, the job becomes your life for 18 months.
- Being on duty means the world’s strictest schedule. Tomb Sentinels stand two-hour watches in 24 hour shifts. In that time, they will repeatedly count to 21, which is representative of the 21-gun salute, the highest military honor given.
- November 2021 Marked The Centennial of The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier.
- Background
- World War I and The Creation of The Tomb
- World War II and Korean War Unknowns
- Vietnam War Unknown
- Guarding The Tomb
- Wreath Layings and visitors Today
• Read about and watch videos of Tomb100 commemorative events. • Download "A Century of Honor: A Commemorative Guide to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier." • Learn more about the Tomb's history and significance in our Education Program module —featuring educational resources for students of all ages, as well as walking tours and readings for lifelong...
Through the ages, one of the consequences of warfare has been large numbers of unidentified dead. Sometimes unidentified remains resulted from poor record keeping, the damage that weapons of war inflicted on bodies, or the haste required to bury the dead and mark gravesites. In the United States prior to the Civil War, unidentified remains were oft...
During World War I, U.S. service members received aluminum identification discs, the precursors to “dog tags,” to aid the process of identifying remains. The War Department created a new unit in the Quartermaster Corps, the Graves Registration Service, to oversee burials. During and after World War I, however, Americans debated whether bodies shoul...
Following World War II, some Americans supported the idea of interring and honoring an Unknown from that war. However, the start of the Korean War in 1950 delayed those plans. In August 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved the selection and interment of Unknowns from both World War II and Korea. Fought on four continents, World War II comp...
Before the Vietnam War ended, Arlington National Cemetery began making preparations to add a third crypt to the Tomb. However, many people believed that advances in technology would mean that all remains from Vietnam could eventually be identified. In response to mounting political pressure to recognize a Vietnam War unknown, President Jimmy Carter...
In March 1926, soldiers from nearby Fort Myer were first assigned to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The guards, present only during daylight hours, discouraged visitors from climbing or stepping on the Tomb. In 1937, the guards became a 24/7 presence, standing watch over the Unknown Soldier at all times. The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, know...
Laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has long been a way for individuals and organizations to honor the sacrifices of American service members. Presidents, politicians, public figures and foreign dignitaries have all paid their respects in this way. Honor Flights, which honor our nation’s veterans with all-expense paid trips to see th...
Tomb guards are required to memorize 35 pages of information about Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, including the locations of nearly 300 graves and who is buried in each one.
May 19, 2022 · Learn how U.S. Army sentinels from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment honor the unknowns from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War at Arlington National Cemetery. Find out their training, rituals, challenges, and stories of walking the mat and changing the guard.
History. Tour the Tomb. Guarding the Tomb. Soldiers were first assigned to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 1926, to discourage visitors from climbing or stepping on it. In...
Apr 20, 2023 · T he Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the heart of Arlington National Cemetery and the final resting place for three unknown service members who fell in battle across World War I, World War II and the Korean War. It is a sacred site woven into the fabric of American heritage.
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