Veterans Day 2025

To all veterans, we say, “Thank you for your service, and we appreciate your sacrifice.” Some gave all, and the tradition of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier continues.

Only 600 men and women have worn the following wreath pin on their lapel, signifying they have served as an Honor Guard of the Unknown Soldiers Tomb. Tomb Guards come from the 3^rd US Infantry Regiment, “The Old Guard”, serving since 1784. The “Old Guard” is the oldest active infantry unit in the military.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier serves as a symbolic grave for all war dead whose remains have not been found or identified. It began with one unknown service member from World War I, interred on November 11, 1921. On July 1, 1937, the Army issued orders for the Tomb to be guarded 24 hours a day. Since then, it has been guarded continuously – 24/7, regardless of the weather. Today it is the grave of three unidentified service members, WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. Its meaning has evolved to represent the memory of all military members throughout American History.

Physically the guard members must be 5′ 10′ to 6′ 2′ tall and their waist size cannot exceed 30. They must commit to 2 years of guard duty at the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink alcohol on or off duty. They cannot swear in public and cannot disgrace the uniform or the tomb. The first 6 months 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.

The guards are changed every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They carry the rifle (M14) on their shoulder away from the tomb. After their march across the path, they execute an about face and move the rifle to the outside shoulder. They march 21 steps, which alludes to the twenty-one-gun salute – the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary – and they wait 21 seconds after their about face to begin their return walk, for the same reason.

Each guard spends 5 hours a day getting their uniforms ready – the uniform can have no wrinkles, folds, or lint on it. Their 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.