The Tombs of the Unknown Soldiers

Guard Duties

The American Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is distinguished by its permanent military honor guard, a tradition upheld by the army's third infantry regiment, known as the Old Guard. This unit has maintained a continuous presence since 1937, with sentinels on duty 24/7, regardless of weather conditions, including during Hurricane Sandy 1. The selection process for sentinels is highly selective, with only a small percentage of applicants chosen, making it more elite than many special forces 1.

The badge awarded to the guards of the Tomb of the Unknown is the second rarest badge issued in the US military, second only to the astronaut badge.

--- Gary Arndt

Sentinels perform a precise ceremonial walk, known as walking the mat, which involves a series of exact movements repeated until they are relieved 1.

   

International Traditions

Internationally, the tradition of honoring unknown soldiers varies, with each country adopting unique practices. While some nations like Italy and Russia have permanent guards similar to the Old Guard, others, such as Spain and India, feature eternal flames at their tombs 2. The concept of selecting an unidentified soldier to symbolize all soldiers began with Britain and France and has since spread globally 2.

Selecting an anonymous unidentified soldier to represent all soldiers is a way to take something vague and perhaps abstract and personalize it.

--- Gary Arndt

These memorials range from grand monuments in Iraq to simple graves in Canada's Confederation Square, each reflecting the nation's way of mourning and honoring their fallen 2.