[TVARC] Arlington Cemetery: You’ll want to read this. Dedication!

[Ken Peters]

Hi all,
  I’m new to the club. When I joined, things were shutting down due to the Covid-19 scare. So, you don’t know me, but hopefully will, someday ... If the good Lord’s willing and the  Creeks don’t rise.
Ken Peters

All of you who receive this have the "option" of forwarding this. Some of us do not consider it an "option" but consider it an "honor" to share this information by forwarding this email every time we receive it. We're proud of our men and women who have served, who do serve, and who will serve no matter where they may be! Amen        
>> 
>> ARLINGTON CEMETERY
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Jeopardy 
>> Question:
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 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!    
>> This is really an awesome sight to watch if you've never had the chance.
>> 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' and 6' 2' tall and 
>> his waist size cannot exceed 30.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 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 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 Lewis {the boxer}
>> Medal of Honor winner Audie L. Murphy, the most 
>> decorated soldier of WWII and of Hollywood fame.
>> 
>> Every guard spends five hours 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 service person. The tomb has been patrolled 
>> continuously, 
>> 24/7, since 1930.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>   
>> 
>> God 
>> Bless and keep them.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>   
>> 
>> I'd be 
>> very proud if this email 
>> reached as many as possible. We can be very 
>> proud of our men
>> and 
>> women
>> in the service no matter where they serve.
>> 
>> GOD BLESS AMERICA
>> 
>> THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE  WHO KEEP IT THAT WAY!
>> 
>>  
>> 
>>  
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> --
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> NOTE: Please delete my address before forwarding this to others.  Erasing the history helps prevent spammers from mining addresses in addition to keeping viruses from being propagated. Send All E mails using only bcc, Thanks
>> 
>>  
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Virus-free. www.avast.com
>> 
>>  
>>  
>> 
> 
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