The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a monument dedicated to U.S soldiers whose remains could not be identified. It stands on top of a hill overlooking Washington DC. in Arlington National Cemetery as a tribute to those unknown individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice in WWI, WWII, and the Korean War.
1970 - Changing of The Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington Cemetery.
The monument does not have an officially designated name but is sometimes known as the Tomb of the Unknowns. It is made of a white marble sarcophagus with three Greek figures sculpted on the side representing Peace, Victory, and Valor. There are also six wreaths, three on each side, representing the six major campaigns of World War I. An inscription on the back of the tomb reads: Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.
Here are four interesting facts about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier:
The Unknowns-- On Veterans Day, 1921, President Warren G. Harding officiated an interment ceremony at the Memorial Amphitheatre in Arlington National Ceremony for an unknown soldier who died during World War 1. Since then, three more random soldiers have been added to the Tomb of the Unknowns(Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) memorial to represent WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War. However, the Vietnam Unknown was identified and disinterred.
The Tomb Guards-- The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded 24/7 by highly trained Tomb Guard sentinels that change guard every 30 minutes during hot weather and every hour during the cold weather.
The Weapons-- Over the years, there has been different types of weapons used by the tomb guards. These changes in weapon reflect the changes in the Army. Currently, the guards use the ceremonial M14 rifles which are cleaned daily and kept ready for use at all times.
Walking the Mat-- The tomb guards have a meticulous routine that they follow when guarding the graves. This routine is done in a series of 21, which alludes to the 21-gun salute.
Charity W. is a professional and skilled writer with a diploma in Mass Communication. When she is not glued to her computer screen, Charity spends her time reading, traveling, and watching movies. She is an expert on Arlington Virginia and keeps current with local events and occurrences.
