Honor the Fallen
 

I stumbled onto this web site this evening, and know that we'll all be following this organization.


[url]http://www.honorthefallen.org/index.shtml[/url]

Here's another for all who've served....
 

[URL="http://virtualshadowbox.com/index.htm"]http://virtualshadowbox.com/index.htm[/URL]

Has anyone on here guarded the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier? Since this was not on a website, I couldn't get the pictures to post. I'll forward the e-mail to anyone interested.....

I got this in an e-mail, and was wondering if it was all true:

On Jeopardy the other night, the final question was How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknown Soldier ------ All three missed it ---

[B][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]This is really an awesome sight to watch if you've never had the chance . Very fascinating. [/SIZE][/FONT][/B]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]

[B]Tomb of the Unknown Soldier[/B][/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=1]
[/SIZE]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3][COLOR=blue][B]1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why?[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][B]21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the [/B][B]highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary. [/B][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][COLOR=blue][B]2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his [/B][B]return walk and why?[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]
[B]21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1 [/B]

[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][COLOR=blue][B]3. Why are his gloves wet?[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][B]His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the [/B][B]rifle.[/B][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][COLOR=blue][B]4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time [/B][B]and if not, why not?[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][B]He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. [/B][B]After his march across the path, he executes an about face [/B][B]and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder. [/B][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][COLOR=blue][B]5. How often are the guards changed?[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][B]Guards are changed every thirty minutes, [/B][B]twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year. [/B][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][COLOR=blue][B]6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][B]For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be [/B][B]between 5' 10" and 6' 2" tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30." Other [/B][B]requirements of the Guard: They must commit 2 years of life to guard the [/B][B]tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on [/B][B]or off duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public for the [/B][B]rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb in [/B][B]any way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on [/B][B]their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only [/B][B]400 presently worn. The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their [/B][B]lives or give up the wreath pin. [/B][B]The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat [/B][B]and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the [/B][B]top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt. [/B][B]There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. Guards dress for duty [/B][B]in front of a full-length mirror. [/B][B]The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor [/B][B]watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid [/B][B]to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must memorize who they are [/B][B]and where they are interred. Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe [/B][B]E. Lewis {the boxer} and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, {the most [/B][B]decorated soldier of WWII} of Hollywood fame. [/B][B]Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for [/B][B]guard duty. [/B][/SIZE][/FONT]

[CENTER][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2][COLOR=blue][B]ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]
[B]In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington, DC, our [/B]
[B]US Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC [/B]
[B]evening news, it was reported that because of the dangers from the [/B]
[B]hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of [/B]
[B]the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment. They [/B]
[B]respectfully declined the offer, "No way, Sir!" Soaked to the skin, [/B]
[B]marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding [/B]
[B]the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be [/B]
[B]afforded to a serviceperson. The tomb has been patrolled continuously, [/B]
[B]24/7, since 1930. [/B][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1]

[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]
[B]God Bless and keep them. [/B][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]
[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3][B]I don't usually suggest that many emails be forwarded, but I'd be [/B][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]
[B]very proud if this one reached as many as possible. We can be very proud [/B]
[B]of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve. [/B][/SIZE][/FONT]

Thank you for listing the organizations and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier information.

Tova