VIETNAM COMBAT VETERANS

                                *NEW*

 ELECTRONIC "WALL NAME RUB OFF's"

         ALL BY COMPLEMENTS OF

 VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL FUND

            THE VIRTUAL WALL

 (Just like the names you see posted

  below)  GET YOURS NOW!

    VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL FUND

              THE VIRTUAL WALL

    TO GET YOUR FRIEND'S OR LOVED ONE'S NAME ON

YOUR OWN PERSONAL PANEL, PEASE JUST SEND HIS

OR HER NAME TO ME BY E-MAIL BY CLICKING ON MY

 E-MAIL ICON BELOW.

      THEN I CAN LOOK IT UP AND POST IT ON "YOUR

 WALL, MY WALL" PAGE ON THIS WEBSITE.  YOUR

 NAME WILL BE POSTED IN YOUR HONOR IN

 ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY YOUR LAST NAME IN

 BLUE.  

 _________________________________________                         

 PAYNE, GREGORY Z. Webmaster,                        

                             Panel 19E Line 053

__________________________________________

      ROBERT A METTERT       ROBERT L VAUGHAN   

              PRENTIS B BOYKIN JR   ROBERT P DEGEN

DANIEL L POFF DELL C ODEGARD DANIEL G WESSLER

          DAVID W BAKER    JAMES E BOUYER 

                RICHARD A THURSBY WILLIAM A DEBATES 

DAVID E KENNEY   CLAUDE R VAN ANDEL

              HARLEY H HALL 

_______________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 
  
  
  
 

 

  
  
1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and  why?

 

                        21 steps.  It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute which is 
                 the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary. 
 

 

  
  

2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his return walk and why?

  

 

                             21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1
 

 

 

  
  
 
3. Why are his gloves wet?

                                                             
 

                    His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.

 

 

 

  
4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time and, if not why not.  
 

  
 He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After his march across the path, he executes an about face and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder. 

 

 

  
  
  5. How often are the guards changed?

 

 

 

                                   Guards are changed every thirty minutes,

                                   twenty-four hours a day. 365 days a year.

  
 
                            
                                          



6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?

For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be
between 5' 10' and 6' 2' tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30. 

They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb.  live in the barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives.  They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot discrase the uniform or the tomb in any way.

After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served as a guard of the tomb.  There are only
400 pesently worn. The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives.or give up the wreath pin.  The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat andthe cold from their feet.  There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt. There are no wrinkles, folds, or lint on the uniform.  Guards dress for duty in front of a full length mirror.



The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone nor
watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid
to rest in Arlington National Cemetery . A guard must memorize who they are
and where they are interred. Among the notables are:  

 

 President Taft,

Joe Lewis (the boxer)

 

  Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, the most
decorated soldier of WWII of Hollywood fame.

 

 

 

Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniform ready for guard duty.

 

                 
.

  

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington D.C.our U.S. Senate
ouse took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC
evening news, it was reported that because of the dangers from the
hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assig nment. They
respectfully declined the offer, 'No way, Sir!' Soaked to the skin,
marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding
the Tomb was not just an as signment, it was the highest honor that can be
afforded to a serviceperson. The tomb has been patrolled continuously,
24/7, since 1930.





God Bless and keep them.

   
I don't usually suggest that many emails be forwarded, but I'd be very proud if this one reached as many as possible.  We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.

 

IN GOD WE TRUST