Greetings!

Arlington National Cemetery is a place of quiet reflection and honor. It covers hundreds of acres overlooking Washington, D.C., and serves as the final resting place for more than 400,000 service members and their families. In the center of these grounds stands the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a monument built to honor American soldiers whose names and identities are lost to war.

The tomb represents every service member who made the ultimate sacrifice without recognition. It has become one of the most visited and meaningful sites in Arlington National Cemetery. The sight of a guard walking with measured steps, protecting the tomb day and night, reminds visitors of the respect owed to all who have served. Every detail, from the marble carvings to the constant watch, tells a story of courage, loss, and national gratitude.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier began as an idea after World War I. Thousands of American soldiers were buried overseas without names, leaving families with no way to know where their loved ones rested. In 1921, Congress approved the creation of a tomb to honor one of these unidentified heroes. Sergeant Edward F. Younger, a decorated soldier, was chosen to select the Unknown. He placed a single white rose on one casket among four, and that casket was brought home to Arlington National Cemetery. On November 11, 1921, now known as Veterans Day, the Unknown Soldier was laid to rest during a ceremony attended by President Warren G. Harding and thousands of citizens.

Later, new crypts were added for unidentified soldiers from other wars. In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill to include Unknowns from World War II and the Korean War. Their remains were buried at Arlington National Cemetery two years later. A third crypt was added for a soldier from the Vietnam War in 1984. However, those remains were identified through DNA testing in 1998, and the tomb now bears an inscription honoring all missing service members from that conflict. Each crypt stands as a lasting promise that every fallen service member, known or unknown, will be remembered.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is watched over every hour of every day, through heat, rain, and snow. The honor of guarding it belongs to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army. They are responsible not only for protecting the tomb but also for performing military funerals, ceremonies, and other duties across Arlington National Cemetery.

Each guard, known as a Sentinel, carries out a duty that requires absolute precision and discipline. Training to become a Sentinel takes months of preparation, involving uniform inspections, physical conditioning, and detailed study of the tomb’s history and meaning. Every movement, from the placement of their steps to the turn of their head, follows a strict standard of excellence. The Sentinel’s Creed ends with the words, “My standard will remain perfection,” which defines the pride and respect they bring to this sacred duty.

Sentinels never wear rank insignia on their uniforms. This ensures that no guard ever appears to outrank the soldiers resting within the tomb. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier honors all unidentified service members, and the Sentinels’ uniform reflects humility and equality before those who gave their lives.

The guards follow a precise pattern of 21 steps across a black mat in front of the tomb, pause for 21 seconds, then repeat the motion. The number 21 represents the 21-gun salute, the highest military tribute. This ritual has been carried out continuously since 1948, marking one of the longest-running ceremonial watches in the world.

This Memorial Day, please pause and take a few minutes from your pool parties, BBQ’s and family gatherings to openly express thanks and appreciation to all those who have served, and continue to serve to protect our freedoms! 

God Bless America!