As I write these words on this Memorial Day, I am watching live coverage from Arlington National Cemetery of the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
The Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Washington, D.C. It is located near the center of the cemetery and it contains the remains of unknown American soldiers from World Wars I and II, and the Korean Conflict. The inscription on the massive marble tomb says, "Here Rests In Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God."
The Tomb of the Unknowns is somewhere every American needs to go at least once in their lives. Being there, experiencing the ceremony and the symbolism of the place, and sensing the reverent, respectful aura will touch you deeply. Reflecting on the three sets of remains buried there will remind you in powerful way that you have the freedoms that you have because men and women like these were willing to go, to serve, and to lay down their lives in defense of our nation and our way of life. The elaborate ceremony of the changing of the guard is awe-inspiring.
Until 1998, The Tomb of the Unknowns contained remains of an unknown soldier from the Vietnam War. That year, DNA testing proved that the remains buried in the Tomb were those of Air Force Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie. Blassie's remains were returned to his family and were buried in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri.
With the advent of modern forensic identification techniques, there will likely never be another soldier interred in the Tomb.
The Tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, rain or shine by specially trained members of the 3rd United States Infantry (The Old Guard).
These guys are no toy soldiers who are only there for looks. Part of the responsibility of the Old Guard is the protection of federal property. They are the guardians of our nation's capitol. But they are best known for guarding the Tomb of the Unknowns.
You and I could learn a lot from these remarkable men and women. They are the best of the best because they push themselves to attain perfection in their duties, not for the praise of men, but out of respect for those whose memory they honor. The Old Guard's relentless pursuit of perfection in all that they do is their way of honoring those who gave their lives. It is a part of their creed:
My dedication to this sacred duty is total and wholehearted.
In the responsibility bestowed on me never will I falter.
And with dignity and perseverance my standard will remain perfection.
Through the years of diligence and praise and the discomfort of the elements,
I will walk my tour in humble reverence to the best of my ability.
It is he who commands the respect I protect.
His bravery that made us so proud.
Surrounded by well meaning crowds by day alone in the thoughtful peace of night,
this soldier will in honored glory rest under my eternal vigilance.
If someone breaches the sanctity of the Tomb's perimeter, they will quickly discover The Old Guard is not just for show. On a visit to The Tomb years ago, I witnessed a visitor - obviously with little of no regard for what that place stands for - step across the rope to get a better picture of the guard. The second he stepped over the line, the guard stopped his routine. planted his feet, loudly brandished his weapon and said with a clear and commanding voice, "SIR, STEP BACK ACROSS THE LINE, PLEASE!" It scared me, and I was ten feet behind the barrier. I saw the blood drain from the face of the offender after he very, very quickly moved back to where he was supposed to be.
The reaction of the guard, the tone of his voice and the loud clack of his rifle clearly let you know that you didn't want to mess with this fellow. I can't speak for the guy who stupidly stepped across the barrier - I suspect that he had to go change his clothes - but I left there realizing that the symbolism of this sacred place was taken very seriously by those charged with protecting it.
Why? Why would we take so seriously the guarding of three unidentified bodies from wars fought long ago? Because we are a forgetful people. We so easily forget those who sacrificed so that we could be where we are today. We so quickly delude ourselves into thinking that we got where we are because of our own efforts. That is certainly partially true, but there is no one among us who does not owe a debt to the one million men and women who have given their lives defending our freedom over the last 232 years.
A quote from the Guard's website says, "Soldiers never die until they are forgotten; Tomb Guards never forget."
On this Memorial Day, we need to learn a lesson from the men and women of the 3rd United States Infantry, The Old Guard. We need to pursue excellence in what we do in honor of those who gave their lives so that we could have these freedoms. We need to "walk our tour in humble reverence to the best of our ability."
And we need to never, never forget.
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