Why does the guard take 21 steps?
Why does the guard take 21 steps?
The Tomb Guard marches exactly 21 steps down the black mat behind the Tomb, turns, faces east for 21 seconds, turns and faces north for 21 seconds, then takes 21 steps down the mat and repeats the process. (The number 21 symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed, the 21-gun salute.)
Why do guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier wear sunglasses?
After getting a blouse, the guard will don hat, shades and gloves. Usually reserved for pilots, the standard sunglasses are a part of the uniform and are issued to the sentinels to protect them from the glare of the marble plaza.
In what year did the Tomb become continuously guarded 24 hours a day 365 days a year?
1948
Since 1948, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been guarded 24-hours a day by Tomb Guards. According to the cemetery’s website, during the changing of the guard ceremony, an impeccably uniformed relief commander announces the change of guard.
How long is an honor guard shift?
The Guard is changed every thirty minutes during the summer (April 1 to Sep 30) and every hour during the winter (Oct 1 to Mar 31). During the hours the cemetery is closed, the guard is changed every 2 hours. The Tomb is guarded, and has been guarded, every minute of every day since 1937.
Can a tomb guard drink alcohol?
Other requirements of the Guard: They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb in any way.
Can the guard of the Tomb of the unknown soldier shoot?
Aside from getting manhandled (and probably tazed) by the Arlington Police, the Tomb Sentinels are carrying fully functional weapons. Whether they’re loaded weapons or if the sentinels have ammunition remains unknown (many sources say they don’t), but that’s not a reason to go testing the theory.
