PCB67SS
Nov 26th, 08, 3:12 PM
Jeopardy Question--Arlington Cemetery
On Jeopardy the other night, the final question was How many
steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the
Unknowns ---- All three missed it --
This is really an awesome sight to watch if you've never had
the chance,
Very fascinating.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
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. Why are his gloves wet?
His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the
rifle.
4. 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.
5. How often are the guards changed?
Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a
day, 365 days a year.
6. 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' an d 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 that
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 hour s a day getting his uniforms ready
for
guard duty.
ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE
UPON THEM.
In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington , DC ,
our
US Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm.
On the ABC evening news, it was
reported that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the
military members assigned the duty
of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given
permission to suspend the assignment.
They respectfully declined the offer, 'No way, Sir!' Soaked to
the skin, marching in the pelting rain
of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not
just an assignment, it was the
highest honor that can be afforded to a serviceperson. The tomb
has been patrolled continuously,
24/7, since 1930.
God Bless and keep them.
On Jeopardy the other night, the final question was How many
steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the
Unknowns ---- All three missed it --
This is really an awesome sight to watch if you've never had
the chance,
Very fascinating.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
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. Why are his gloves wet?
His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the
rifle.
4. 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.
5. How often are the guards changed?
Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a
day, 365 days a year.
6. 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' an d 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 that
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 hour s a day getting his uniforms ready
for
guard duty.
ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE
UPON THEM.
In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington , DC ,
our
US Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm.
On the ABC evening news, it was
reported that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the
military members assigned the duty
of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given
permission to suspend the assignment.
They respectfully declined the offer, 'No way, Sir!' Soaked to
the skin, marching in the pelting rain
of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not
just an assignment, it was the
highest honor that can be afforded to a serviceperson. The tomb
has been patrolled continuously,
24/7, since 1930.
God Bless and keep them.