The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
DID YOU KNOW?
1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the
Unknowns and why?
21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest
honor given any military or foreign dignitary.
2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his return walk
and why?
21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1.
3. How do they use the number 21?
Add the numbers in 1776, the year the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the total of the numbers equals 21.
4. Why are his gloves wet?
His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.
5. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder
all the time, and if not, why not?
He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After his march
across the path, he executes an about face, and moves
the rifle to the outside shoulder.
6. How often are the guards changed?
Guards are changed every thirty minutes,
twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.
7. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?
For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be between 5' 10" > and 6' 2" tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30.
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.
After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin hat is worn on their lapel
signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only
400 presently worn.
The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the
wreath pin.
The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold
from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the
shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt.
There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform.
Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror.
The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in
Arlington National Cemetery.
A guard must memorize who they are and where they
are interred. Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe E. Lewis {the
boxer} and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, {the
most decorated soldier of
WWII} of Hollywood fame.
Every guard spends five hours a day getting his
uniforms ready for guard duty.
So how are you really susposed to display our Countrie's Flag?
The flag should be hoisted briskly at dawn and lowered ceremoniously at dusk. The flag should be displayed at night only if it is lighted dramatically, as from below. To fly the flag at half-staff, raise it briskly to the top of the pole, keep it there for a moment and then lower it to half-staff. Before taking the flag down for the day, return it briefly to the top of the pole.
The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather flag is used.
When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle, the union (the blue rectangle on which stars are embroidered or fastened) should be at the staff's peak, unless the flag is being flown at half-staff.
When displayed horizontally against a wall the union should be to the left of the observer, looking from the street or in the audience. The same holds when a flag is displayed horizontally in a window. When the flag is displayed vertically against a wall, the union is also to the observer's left. Likewise, when a flag is hung vertically in a window.
When displayed directly over a street, the flag is hung vertically, and it is centered in the street with the union aligned with the north or east. In a north/south street, this means the flag is hung across the street with the union on the east side of the street. Conversely, on an east/west street, the union is on the north side of the street.
For visual reference on all of this, visit the American Legion Web site (www.legion.org).
Prohibitions
Never use the flag for advertising purposes, as drapery, linens or as clothing, or print it on items soon to be discarded--napkins and paper plates, for example. It should not be used as part of a uniform--athletic or otherwise, unless you are a member of the military, a patriotic organization, police force, fire department or rescue/ambulance squad.
Never attach a flag directly to a vehicle or drape it over a vehicle. Instead, the flag should be attached to a staff secured to a vehicle's chassis or to the right front fender. The flag should be displayed on floats in a similar manner. When bunting is used for patriotic display instead of a flag, the colors are arranged from top to bottom: blue, white and red.
Never display the flag in a manner in which it is easily damaged or with it touching the ground.
Never display the flag upside down--as this is a distress signal.
