Wars, wars are times in our lives where we live in constant fear, worry and destruction is all around us. It’s a time where the young men of America and other countries go to fight for a cause that they strongly believe in, or honestly maybe they don’t. They are there to honor their country, but by doing that there is always a chance of a severe injury or death. So picture yourself as a family member sending off your loved one to a war knowing they might not come back. It’s horrible isn’t it? Then put yourself in the shoes of families who send their loved ones away, then to never have them return. Have them never come home to another meal and not knowing if they are alive or not.DNA testing wasn’t really a thing so there was no way of knowing who belonged to who. Well for most families this was the case they sent soldiers away only to have them never return but be pronounced dead, and that’s how we ended up with unknown soldiers.
The tomb for the soldiers, didn’t always look how it looks today. Well, for starters since it was created after WW1 there started off as only being one tomb there above ground. The initial white marble structure was flat, at ground level and without the 70 ton marble sarcophagus. There was no guards when it first came out so people would cluster around it and sometimes even use it as a picnic table! They then finally put up a little wooden fence and in 1925 a civilian guard stood there at watch. Then in 1926 a US army soldier was placed there during cemetary and visiting hours, and it wasn’t till ten years later that there was a 24 hour guard always watching. There was a major competition held for artists and sculptures to see which sarcophagus would hold the soldier because they wanted it to be redone. The winner of the contest was two men by the names of Lorimer Rich and Thomas Hudson Jones. Congress approved there design in 1929, and they got to work. Quartermaster General Brig. Gen. Louis H. Bash oversaw the construction, which was undertaken by the construction company Hegman and Harris. Lorimer Rich and Thomas Hudson Jones then completed the construction in 1931. It was a breathtaking piece which consists of yule marble. “The Yule marble ( the marble they were using for the project ) was cut into seven pieces for four layers; capstone, the die block (the main monument), the base and sub-base (plinth)
The total height of the monument is 11 feet, The length is 13 feet 11 inches at the base and 12 feet 7 inches at the top, and the width is 8 feet at the base and 6 feet 8 inches at the top. The side that faces Washington D.C. ( the front side ) have three ancient Greek and Roman figures, that stand for Victory, Valor and Peace. http://www.american-historama.org/ goes into depth about the figures on the sarcophagus “The female figure of Peace (left side) is holding a dove that symbolizes peace and friendship. The male figure Valor (right side) is holding a broken sword, another symbol of peace and symbolizing the capture of the enemy and his inability to fight. The central figure of Victory extending an olive branch towards Valor. The palm branch is a symbol of victory, triumph, peace and eternal life.”The back of the Tomb (the West side) has the words written on the Tomb ‘HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD’. Then finally the completed sarcophagus was put over the unknown soldier’s monument.
The history behind the tombs is fascinating, but to understand why this memorial is so important I think you need to understand the wars that took place before. A lot of wars have different reasons for starting but one thing they all have in common is death. World war 1 started in July of 1914 and then continued till November of 1918. Over 16 million deaths. Then you have ww2 where over 73 million died. Then the Korean war which had around 33 thousand deaths. The finally the Vietnam war with approximately 2 million deaths. So from all of those wars you get 4 soldiers who get visited and that are under the name “Unknown”. Well that is until the vietnam soldier, but I’ll get into that later. So it’s only right that if only one unknown soldier was gonna get recognized that we should do it right.
On memorial day, 1924 unknowns were taken from World War 1 American cemeteries in France. All of the unknowns were all placed into look-alike caskets. The tombs were white and three greek symbols were on them representing Peace, victory and valor. Then the six wreaths represent the six major capitals of WW1. U.S. army Sergeant Edward F. Younger, Who was highly decorated for Valor and won the distinguished service medal, chose which casket would be chosen to be the Unknown Soldier by putting a white rose on the casket of his choice. There is no specific order in which the caskets were placed and it was completely random at which the unknown Soldier was chosen. Sergeant Edward chose the third casket from the left and on October 24th 1921 it was done. The Chosen casket was then transported to the USA, on the USS Olympia and the other caskets stayed at the cemetery and France were they would be buried along with other soldiers.
On August 3rd, 1956 President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill to pay tribute and select the unknowns of Korea and World War II. Then the selection Ceremonies for the two Wars took place in 1958. the World War I know it was selected from the Philippines Africa Europe in Hawaii. once again the soldiers from those four places are playing identical caskets active medal recipients in Davie hospitalist class William R Charette, selected the soldier for World War II and the other Unknown Soldiers were buried at Sea. Four unknown Americans who died in the Korean War they were brought from the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. Army Master Sgt. Ned Lyle made the l selection. Both caskets arrived in Washington on May 28, 1958 and they waited there until the 30th of May. They were then brought to Arlington National Cemetery and President Eisenhower awarded each the Medal of Honor, and the Unknowns were interred in the plaza beside their World War I soldier.
The Vietnam soldier however was different from the rest. The casket was chosen by U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Allan Jay Kellogg Jr. and it happened May 17, 1984. The other unknown soldiers who weren’t chosen were sent to Travis air force base. Then the chosen unknown was sent to a naval base on the USS Brewton. After that for 14 years people visited the tomb, ut then in 1988 the corps was dna tested and they figured out that it was Air force base First lieutenant Michael Blassie. He was shot down during a 1972 bombing mission. Then after 26 years of him being quote “missing” his remains were given back to his family and he was buried in Jefferson barracks national cemetery.
The changing of the guard is a famous ritual that happens everyday, in front of the tomb. “The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and in any weather by Tomb Guard sentinels. Sentinels, all volunteers, are considered to be the best of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), headquartered at Fort Myer, Virginia.” ( https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/ ) The guards might change from a day to day basis but the steps never change. “The Tomb Guard marches 21 steps down the black mat behind the Tomb, turns, faces east for 21 seconds, turns and faces north for 21 seconds, then takes 21 steps down the mat and repeats the process. After the turn, the sentinel executes a sharp ‘shoulder-arms’ movement to place the weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors to signify that the sentinel stands between the Tomb and any possible threat. Twenty-one was chosen because it symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed — the 21-gun salute.” www.arlingtoncemetery.mil During this ceremony you are asked to stay quiet and if you aren’t you will be removed. They take this process very seriously and the soldiers are proud to honor their fellow soldiers that are “ Known but to God “
To become one of these guards is not easy and you must meet certain requirements. For example An interview and a two-week trial to determine a volunteer’s capability to train as a tomb guard is required. Each soldier has to have an perfect military record and they have to be between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet, 4 inches tall for males or for females 5 feet, 8 inches and 6 feet, 2 inches tall with a proportionate weight and build. On their off days and hours they are supposed to study the cemetery, clean their weapons and or by choice train.
