Taphophilia.(dot) Com - "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier" guards a breed above and apart

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"Tomb of the Unknown Soldier" guards a breed above and apart

Written by DeadGirl
Monday, 07 August 2006
By Don Moore The Sun Herald Veterans Column Interesting facts about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.: "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 contestants missed it. "The answer: 21 steps. It alludes to the 21-gun salute which is the highest honor given the president or any foreign dignitary. "How long does the guard at the tomb hesitate after his about-face to begin his return walk and why? "The answer: 21 seconds for the same reason. "Does the guard carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time? If not why not? "The answer: He carries his rifle on the shoulder away form the tomb. After he marches across the path the guard executes an about face and moves the rifle to the other shoulder. "How often are the guards changed? "Answer: Guards are changed every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year." (According to Arlington National Cemetery, that is not true. The guards are changed every hour from Oct. 1 through the end of March. From April 1 through Sept. 1, they are changed every 30 minutes. ) "What are the physical traits and other requirements to become a guard at the 'Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?' "Answer: For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he or she must be between 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet 2 inches tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30 inches." (According to Arlington National Cemetery, the sentinels must be between 5 feet 10 inches tall and 6 feet 4 inches tall with a "proportionate weight and build.") "Other requirements for being a guard: They must commit two yeas of his life to guard the tomb, live in 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 or the tomb in any way. "After two years service at the tomb, a guard is given a silver wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served as a 'Tomb of the Unknown Soldier' guard. "A guard's 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 shoes in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt. "Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniform ready for guard duty. There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on his uniform. Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror. "The first six months a guard is on duty he 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 Howard Taft, Joe E. Lewis, Medal of Honor recipient Audie Murphy of Hollywood fame who happens to be the most decorated solder in World War II. "In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives adjourned for two days because of the approaching storm. On the ABC Evening News it was reported that because of the approaching hurricane the guards at the 'Tomb of the Unknown Soldier' would also be granted two-day suspension of their guard duties. "They respectfully declined the offer. The tomb guards soaked to the skin, marched day and night in the pelting rain that swept over the Washington area. "'The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier' guards maintained that guarding the tomb was not just another assignment, but the highest honor afforded any service person. These guards have protected the national monument 24/7, 365 days a year since 1930." http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/061906/ew14.htm?date=061906&story=ew14.htm

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Taphophilia?

taphophilia (taf′ō-fil′ē-ă)

ORIGIN:
From the Greek words taphos, meaning "tomb" or "sepulcher" and philia, meaning "attraction or affinity to something, in particular the love or obsession with something"

DEFINITION: 1. An excessive interest in graves and cemeteries. 2. A love or fondness for funerals, graves, and cemeteries. 3. In psychiatry, a morbid attraction to graves and cemeteries

Taphophiles Speak

Have you decided on eternal repose?

	earthen burial
	entombment
	cremation
	donation to science
	cyrogenically frozen
	you mean I'm still alive?

Quote Repository

“Ay, but to die and go we know not where; To lie in cold obstrution and to rot; This sensible warm motion to become A kneaded clod; and the delighted spirit To bathe in fiery floods or to reside In thrilling regions of thick-ribbed ice; To be impison'd in the viewless winds, And blown with restless violence round about The pendant world.”

William Shakespeare -