History of the Tomb of the Unknowns
After the First World War, European nations struggled to find a proper memorial to the millions of dead soldiers who could not be identified. In 1920, Britain buried an unknown soldier amongst kings in Westminster Abbey. The following year, France buried its unknown warrior beneath the Arc de Triomphe. Soon after, the United States followed suit.
 The Unknown Soldier from World War I was taken from the USS Olympia at the Washington Navy Yard and transported to the United States Capitol to lie in state. Among those present was General of the Armies John J. Pershing. Photo by: E.B. Thompson |
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On October 24, 1921, decorated combat veteran Sgt. Edward Younger selected one of four exhumed, unidentified bodies in identical caskets. The selected casket was loaded onto the USS Olympia for transport back to the U.S. Once home, the Unknown Soldier lay in state in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol until Armistice Day.
On November 11, 1921, the casket was transported to Arlington National Cemetery and placed beneath a marble sarcophagus with the inscription: “Here Rests In Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God.” During the ceremony officiated by President Harding, the Unknown Soldier was awarded the Medal of Honor and the Victoria Cross.
On May 30, 1958, he was joined by unknown American dead from World War II and Korea. The Unknown Soldier from the Vietnam War was identified via DNA testing in 1998, and his body disinterred for a family burial.
Since July 2, 1937, the Tomb of the Unknowns has been guarded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by a special platoon of the 3rd Infantry Division. These men and women must pass stringent testing to ensure proper honors are rendered to the Unknowns.
The sequence of the Tomb Guard procedure revolve around the number 21, which represents the highest military salute and is usually reserved for heads of state. The Sentinel walks 21 steps across the Tomb, with his M14 on the shoulder farthest from the Tomb. On the 21st step, the Sentinel turns and faces the Tomb for 21 seconds. The Sentinel then turns to face the opposite direction across the Tomb and switches the rifle to the opposite shoulder. After 21 seconds, the sequence repeats. Even after Arlington closes to the public, the ritual is continued as a mark of respect for the fallen.
The guard is changed in accordance with Army regulations every half-hour from April 1 to September 30 and every hour from October 1 through March 31.
For more information, visit http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/