A US Army sentinel guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier reprimanded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and a group of his senior advisers Wednesday after some in the group laughed and talked near the solemn memorial following a Veterans Day ceremony.
“All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times,” the sentinel called out, stopping his patrol to face the group as they departed.
Jerk didn’t even seem to care. I bet he turns around and tries to get the Sentinel reprimanded.
Its 100% honour position so there aren’t any promotions. Its very strict position sort of like the guards of Buckingham palace. There’s been a 24/7 watch there for years and the changing of the guard at the tomb is cool to watch if you’ve never seen it. Very precise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4utXb3auOew
(As far as has ever been reported, there’s been a guard posted there uninterrupted for the past 89 years. It’s hard to express how seriously people take this one.)
Looks like it, ya. The ceremony is full of symbolism too. Here is just an exerpt I found on it:
“The Tomb Guard marches exactly 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. (The number 21 symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed, the 21-gun salute.) Next, the Sentinel executes a sharp “shoulder-arms” movement to place the weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors, signifying that he or she stands between the Tomb and any possible threat.”
https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/explore/changing-of-the-guard
Nearly uninterrupted. There are very few times they aren’t out there, and it’s pretty much only due to hurricane force winds. Otherwise, it’s 24/7.
They have been excused for hurricanes, but have chosen the remain on watch.
If you have more information I am very curious - as far as I am aware, the closest it gets is when one of the guards is sheltering in the tent at the end of the carpet; I’ve never seen anything about there truly not being someone on duty. They have been very rarely allowed to leave due to things like hurricanes, but nobody has ever taken the offer.
I’ve had friends in the Old Guard, the unit that provides the sentinels. It’s my understanding you’d never be able to live it down if you left on the rare occasions when it was allowed.
What’s up with the parentheses? I’ve never seen anyone make an entire comment in parentheses and there are two on this same post.
Ah sorry; that’s a common tone indicator on other parts of the internet. It’s used to indicate a polite aside or minor correction when truly not intending offense.
(but we don’t do that here)
(0w0)
Yeah, the kind of person who ends up with that job is going to have their life changed way more by being the guy who got to yell at the secretary of “war” than by getting a promotion.
Hopefully in a good way. In a just world that guy never pays for drinks again.