Did you know that millions of people around the world visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier each year? The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is one of the most recognized memorials in the world. It is located in Arlington National Cemetery, and is the most iconic memorial in the cemetery. The Tomb is not only the final resting place for three unknown service members, it is also a place of mourning and a place for reflection on military service.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located in Arlington National Cemetery. It is located towards the back of Arlington National Cemetery on the west bank of the Potomac with a building that has an amphitheater behind it. Arlington National Cemetery has approximately 400,000 veterans buried on its 624 acres. …show more content…
This can be for various reasons: poor record keeping, bodies that are unidentifiable due to damage from the war, or just the hurry to bury the bodies. Prior to the Civil War, unidentified bodies were buried in mass graves, but during the Civil War unidentified soldiers were often buried on battlefields. Even when soldiers started to wear dog tags, there were still soldiers and others whose remains weren’t identifiable. In 1920 a Congressman and World War I veteran, Hamilton Fish Jr, asked for the interment of an unknown American Soldier at a special tomb to be built in Arlington National Cemetery. On November 11, 1921, the first Unknown arrived at Arlington National Cemetery. After a state funeral, the Unknown was interred in the Tomb of the Unknown. Across America, two minutes of silence was observed at the beginning of the ceremony. Two additional Unknowns were added to the tomb in 1958. They are interred to the west of the World War 1 Unknown. Originally there was a fourth Unknown from the Vietnam War interred in the Tomb. The soldier was there for fourteen years until the Department of Defense suggested a person the remains could be. The family of the Unknown asked that the body be exhumed for DNA testing. The soldier was then identified and his remains were taken to a different cemetery. This crypt remains vacant. The three unidentified service members are each from World War I, …show more content…
On May 14, 1998, there was evidence that the Vietnam War’s unknown was Air Force first Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, a pilot who was shot down in 1972. Blassie’s family requested that because his body had been discovered to be one of the Unknown’s, that the Department of Defense should clear out the remains of the Unknown’s body. Starting in 1926, soldiers were assigned to guard the Tomb of the Unknown. They were only present during daylight hours and discouraged visitors from climbing or disrespecting the tomb. Beginning in 1937 there is a guard present at the Tomb twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Soldiers who volunteer to become Tomb Guards go through a rigorous selection process and intensive training. It is considered one of the highest honors to serve as the Sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Less than 20 percent of those who apply are accepted for the training. And only a small percentage of those pass the training to actually become the Tomb Guards. They must commit to the job for two years and live in barracks under the tomb. They also give up alcohol and swear in public for the rest of their lives. If one is interested in becoming a guard, there are height requirements as well. You must be between 5’10”-6’4” if you are a male, and between 5’8”-6’2” if you are a female. If not actively walking the Tomb, the Guards spend time in the room
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located in Arlington National Cemetery. It is located towards the back of Arlington National Cemetery on the west bank of the Potomac with a building that has an amphitheater behind it. Arlington National Cemetery has approximately 400,000 veterans buried on its 624 acres. …show more content…
This can be for various reasons: poor record keeping, bodies that are unidentifiable due to damage from the war, or just the hurry to bury the bodies. Prior to the Civil War, unidentified bodies were buried in mass graves, but during the Civil War unidentified soldiers were often buried on battlefields. Even when soldiers started to wear dog tags, there were still soldiers and others whose remains weren’t identifiable. In 1920 a Congressman and World War I veteran, Hamilton Fish Jr, asked for the interment of an unknown American Soldier at a special tomb to be built in Arlington National Cemetery. On November 11, 1921, the first Unknown arrived at Arlington National Cemetery. After a state funeral, the Unknown was interred in the Tomb of the Unknown. Across America, two minutes of silence was observed at the beginning of the ceremony. Two additional Unknowns were added to the tomb in 1958. They are interred to the west of the World War 1 Unknown. Originally there was a fourth Unknown from the Vietnam War interred in the Tomb. The soldier was there for fourteen years until the Department of Defense suggested a person the remains could be. The family of the Unknown asked that the body be exhumed for DNA testing. The soldier was then identified and his remains were taken to a different cemetery. This crypt remains vacant. The three unidentified service members are each from World War I, …show more content…
On May 14, 1998, there was evidence that the Vietnam War’s unknown was Air Force first Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, a pilot who was shot down in 1972. Blassie’s family requested that because his body had been discovered to be one of the Unknown’s, that the Department of Defense should clear out the remains of the Unknown’s body. Starting in 1926, soldiers were assigned to guard the Tomb of the Unknown. They were only present during daylight hours and discouraged visitors from climbing or disrespecting the tomb. Beginning in 1937 there is a guard present at the Tomb twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Soldiers who volunteer to become Tomb Guards go through a rigorous selection process and intensive training. It is considered one of the highest honors to serve as the Sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Less than 20 percent of those who apply are accepted for the training. And only a small percentage of those pass the training to actually become the Tomb Guards. They must commit to the job for two years and live in barracks under the tomb. They also give up alcohol and swear in public for the rest of their lives. If one is interested in becoming a guard, there are height requirements as well. You must be between 5’10”-6’4” if you are a male, and between 5’8”-6’2” if you are a female. If not actively walking the Tomb, the Guards spend time in the room