Feature
Sept.
1
Old Guard Soldier Walks On
by Terry Trahan Jr.
As Hurricane Irene slammed into the East Coast, dumping torrential rains and unleashing howling winds, one soldier seemed unfazed.
The 3rd U.S. Infantry soldier paced across the 63-foot rubber walkway in 21 steps. As he always does, he turned to face the tomb for 21 seconds, turned again, paused for another 21 seconds, and retraced his steps.
Meanwhile, governors and other state officials begged residents to leave their homes before their communities felt the full effects of the storm. In Atlantic City, N.J., firefighters went to homes and used a crayon to scribble a large “X” on windows to prepare for body counts once the storm passed. That got the reluctant residents’ attention.
In New York City, the mass transit system shut down, and all five airports in the area canceled their entire flight schedules. Nearly all weekend events were postponed, but the soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier never left his post.
The 3rd U.S. Infantry, also known as the Old Guard, has served the nation since 1784. As the Army’s oldest active-duty infantry, the soldiers are responsible for ceremonial assignments and escort services for the president. They also guard Washington, D.C. during national emergencies.
The Old Guard receives about 6,000 ceremonial assignments each year, and each soldier undergoes year-round training to retain knowledge of both military and ceremonial duties. Each soldier in Company E, which guards the tomb, must be an American citizen and have a spotless record. In addition, to quality for Company E, the soldier must measure between 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet 4 inches tall, and have a “proportionate weight and build.” An interview and two-week trial must also be conducted.
At this phase, potential guards must memorize seven pages about the history of Arlington National Cemetery and recite them verbatim to earn a walk. During new-soldier training, they also learn the grave sites of 300 veterans, in addition to details about the Changing of the Guard ceremony. From Oct. 1 through March 31, the guards change posts every hour on the hour.These changes occur every half hour from April 1 through Sept. 30.
Since 1948, a soldier from the Old Guard has been guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Congress approved the burial of an unidentified soldier in Arlington Cemetery in 1921 following World War I. A civilian watchman guarded the tomb until a military guard from the Washington Provisional Brigade accepted the duty in 1926. The Old Guard received the assignment 22 years later and continues the 24-hour vigil today.
While on duty, the guard wears a black-and-tan buff strap on the left shoulder as a symbol of pride in his appearance and attention to detail in his assignments. The soldier is also allowed to wear a tomb identification badge, and can continue to wear the badge as a permanent fixture on his uniform after nine months of service.
The soldier’s weapon always points away from the tomb, and he remains silent unless he must issue a warning when someone attempts to cross into the restricted area that surrounds the tomb.
Visitors witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony daily. It’s an American tradition that stops for nothing, not even a rare Atlantic hurricane with its crosshairs fixed on the country’s metropolitan cities along the East Coast.
The image of the Company E guard taking those rhythmic steps through the slanting, stinging rain serves as a reminder that a love for country still exists, even when the days are darkest. It’s a challenge to all who call the U.S. home to look at Old Glory as not just a symbol of freedom, but as a symbol of dedication protected by those who have served and given their lives to make our country the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.
