Even in a hurricane, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

[jefferson_dem]

:patriot:

Hurricane Irene Tomb.

By 3rd U.S. INF Regiment The Old Guard





A lone Tomb Sentinel, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), walks his tour in humble reverence during Hurricane Irene in Arlington National Cemetery, Va., Aug 27. Members of The Old Guard have guarded the Tomb every second, of every day regardless of weather or holidays since April 6, 1948.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.261349963889120.71300.109701809053937&l=8e798c8e75#!/photo.php?fbid=261350007222449&set=a.261349963889120.71300.109701809053937&type=1&l=8e798c8e75&theater&closeTheater=1

[cliffordu]

1. .....

:patriot:

[MaggieTheVoter]

2. +1

:patriot:

[Violet_Crumble]

3. I hate to rain on the parade (pardon the pun)...

...but surely they'd be pulled indoors if weather conditions got so extreme that debris and tree branches were flying around outside? No-one's life is worth guarding a tomb that's not going anywhere in extreme conditions...

[Name removed]

4. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tammywammy]

6. Yes, they have plans in place if the conditions are life threatening. n/t

[Violet_Crumble]

8. I suspected they might have...

fwiw, I hadn't seen pics of that Tomb before, and it's a pretty impressive sight seeing a soldier guard it...

[YellowRubberDuckie]

16. They have stayed through worse.

They have been excused of duty, but those Marines take so much pride in honoring their fallen brothers, that even hurricanes won't keep them from watching over them. Make me cry every time. I don't know if, when we eventually visit Washington DC if I'll be able to go to Arlington without sobbing my eyes out. :patriot:
Plus there is that whole pesky thing about how those guys died fighting for ideals and freedoms thinking they'd die so that we could keep them forever. Big Business have pretty much made all of their deaths in vain at this point.
Duckie

[11 Bravo]

24. Those are NOT Marines. They are members of the "3rd Herd" ...

The Old Guard ... The US Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment, based at Fort Meyer in Arlington, VA. HOOAAH!

[Rhythm]

13. There has been a Sentinel (the official title of a ANS Tomb guard) walking the post 24/7 since 1937

No matter the weather conditions. In extreme weather, they rotate Sentinels out more frequently, but they are always there.
They are there because it is the most revered stateside assignment that the United States Army offers, and they accept less applicants than the Special Forces.

[pinboy3niner]

15. There are contingency plans for conditions that might pose a risk

Do you guard in a blizzard or a bad thunderstorm?


YES, BUT the accomplishment of the mission and welfare of the Soldier is never put at risk. The Tomb Guards have contingencies that are ready to be executed IF the weather conditions EVER place the Soldiers at risk of injury or death – such as lightning, high winds, etc. This ensures that Sentinels can maintain the Tomb Guard responsibilities while ensuring soldier safety. It is the responsibility of the Chain of Command from the Sergeant of the Guard to the Regimental Commander to ensure mission accomplishment and soldier welfare at all times.


It was erroneously reported that during Hurricane Isabel, the Sentinels were ordered to abandon their posts for shelter and that they refused. No such order was ever given. All proper precautions were taken to ensure the safety of the Sentinels while accomplishing their mission. Risk assessments are constantly conducted by the Chain of Command during changing conditions to ensure that soldier welfare is maintained during mission accomplishment.


http://www.tombguard.org/FAQ.html#What is it like to guard in bad weather?

[SheilaT]

5. I've been to the Tomb of the Unknowns

several times, and I am always in awe of the soldiers who guard it.

And this from someone as anti-military as can exist.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

17. I'm not sure what you mean by anti military.

They are a necessity in any country. I am anti war, but those boys and girls are doing a job they were misled into believing would give them and their families a better life. We need the National Guard for crowd controls during domestic unrest and natural disasters.
When you say anti military, I think of the people who spat in the faces of Vietnam Vets and it makes me practically violently angry. Please tell me this was not something you encourage.
Duckie

[SheilaT]

19. What I mean is that I

am of the opinion that we spend far too much of our budget on our military. We don't need to be Policemen for the World. We shouldn't be invading other countries. We don't need military bases in the hundred plus countries that we have them in.

That's what I mean.

Plus, the tales of Vietnam Vets being spat upon seems to be mostly urban legend, since there are no reports of that happening at the time. No, I would not do that, nor would I encourage anyone else to do that.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

21. It is not urban legend.

It did happen. To people I know and love.
And I am in agreement about how we need to spend less on the military and we do not need to be the policemen for the world.
We do need to keep our promises to vets and spend money on that back end of war, but war no more.
Thanks for the clarification.

[former9thward]

25. It is urban legend.

Did these people you "know and love" just accept being spit in the face? What did they do? Did they run away from the dirty hippies who apparently were just lurking around at airports waiting to spit on soldiers?

[YellowRubberDuckie]

26. It wasn't at the airport....

and with that attitude, I'm no longer speaking to you.

[Fearless]

7. It is a comforting thought to those who have lost loved ones or who have loved ones overseas.

[Rhythm]

9. Earlier, my son and i were watching video of changing of the Guard at the Tomb

...as well as watching footage of the 3rd regiment's precision armed drill team.
He was awed, to say the least.

Whoever's walking the post tonight, be safe... :patriot:

[Lucinda]

11. +1

[flying rabbit]

10. ...

:patriot:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. ...

:patriot:

[Scuba]

14. If you're ever in the DC area, I recommend you visit the Tomb....

...and stay for the "changing of the guard". It's a moving experience and a reminder of the cost of war.



Way too much glorification of war in this country and way too little recognition of the pain and misery, the loss of life and loved ones.

[Omaha Steve]

18. THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY (JFK featured this month)

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/index.htm



k&r!

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/historical_information/index.html

This month in Arlington History...

On the morning of August 2, 1943, PT-109 was rammed by the Japanese
Destroyer AMAGIRI while patrolling in the Blackett Strait near the Island of
Kolombangara. The ramming cut away the PT boat's starboard side and left her
completely disabled. As the ship slowly sank, the crew abandoned ship to
swim to a nearby island. With the aid of local residents, the crew was
returned to the Rendova PT Base on August 8, 1943. PT-109 was commanded by
an officer who later became President of the United States, Lieutenant
(Junior Grade) John F. Kennedy. He is buried in section 45.

[pinboy3niner]

20. Thanks, Steve

Visiting the graves of JFK and RFK there is a moving experience.

I buried a friend there, and I have other friends at Arlington, including a Medal of Honor recipient--but I've lost count of how many are there now...

[grahamhgreen]

22. How bout we have a Tomb of the Homeless Veteran?

[pitohui]

27. well maybe an apartment of the homeless veteran would be better!

the homeless vets i encounter aren't worried about a tomb, they're worried about not getting fried in a heat index of 115 freakin' degrees...

that said, there is also a value to honoring those who have sacrificed their lives and i honor the soldiers standing guard at the tomb

we are a rich country, we could do both, we could educate, house, and provide decent medical care to our veterans AND honor them after they've passed

it shouldn't be this hard...

[grahamhgreen]

28. Agreed!

[Scurrilous]

23. K & R

:thumbsup: