Wild Walley’s Blog

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It stands on top of a hill overlooking Washington, D.C.  Another image that has been only etched in my mind from the News and History books.  This is one of the more popular sites at the Cemetery.

The tomb is made from Yule marble quarried in Colorado.  It consists of seven pieces, with a total weight of 79 short tons (72 metric tons). The tomb was completed and opened to the public April 9, 1932, at a cost of $48,000.

It was initially named the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.” Other unknown servicemen were later buried there, and it became known as the “Tomb of the Unknowns”, though it has never been officially named. The soldiers buried there are:

• Unknown Soldier of World War I, interred November 11, 1921. President Warren G. Harding presided.
• Unknown Soldier of World War II, interred May 30, 1958. President Dwight D. Eisenhower presided.
• Unknown Soldier of the Korean War, also interred May 30, 1958. President Dwight Eisenhower presided again, Vice President Richard Nixon acted as next of kin.
• Unknown Soldier of the Vietnam War, interred May 28, 1984. President Ronald Reagan presided. The remains of the Vietnam Unknown were disinterred, under the authority of President Bill Clinton, on May 14, 1998, and were identified as those of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael J. Blassie, whose family had him reinterred near their home in St. Louis, Missouri. It has been determined that the crypt at the Tomb of the Unknowns that contained the remains of the Vietnam Unknown will remain empty.

The Tomb of the Unknowns is perpetually guarded by the U.S. Army. The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (”The Old Guard”) began guarding the Tomb April 6, 1948.  It was at least 105 heat index…and you could see the sweat drenched Gold stripe on his pants…and sweat filled white gloves…and water dripping from his forehead…still NOTHING but PERFECT motion as he was on Duty.  At 1pm…we caught the ‘Changing of the Guard’. 

 There is a continual guard on watch at the sarcophagus 24 hrs. a day, 365 days a year which changes in shifts no matter the weather. 

 From Oct. 1^st to March 31^st the guard is changed every hour on the hour.  From April 1^st to September 30^th the guard is changed every half hour and creates more chances for onlookers to view the changing. 

Each soldier must be in superb physical condition, possess an unblemished military record and be between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet, 4 inches tall, with a proportionate weight and build. An interview and a two-week trial to determine a volunteer’s capability to train as a tomb guard is required.

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