Soldiers Continue Guarding Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Despite Blizzard
Soldiers Continue Guarding Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Despite Blizzard
A little snow isn’t going to stop them! The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment’s Old Guard will continue guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier despite historic blizzard conditions on the East Coast.
The Old Guard has watched over the tomb at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year since 1948, according to The New York Times . The cemetery will be closed to visitors as Winter Storm Jonas pummels the area.
“These guys will be out in the snow, no matter what,” Major Russell Fox, a spokesperson for the Old Guard, told ABC News . “They love what they’re doing and they’re dedicated.”
During historic storms like Winter Storm Jonas and Hurricane Sandy, the guards can stand inside a nearby “box” made of green cloth for 2-hour intervals with their rifles by their side.
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The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a monument dedicated to an unidentified service member who died in World War I. Congress approved the burial of the American soldier on March 4, 1921.
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A little snow isn’t going to stop them! The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment’s Old Guard will continue guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier despite historic blizzard conditions on the East Coast.
A small reminder of what unites us.
The ''Old Guard'', in addition to guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, they have been at the forefront of defending America.
The Rock of the Marne.
Visitors to Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield will hear the phrase "Rock of the Marne" repeated time and again by Soldiers. But what exactly is the Rock of the Marne?
It all began during World War I when the newly-formed 3rd Division (later re-designated as the 3rd Infantry Division) was in France as part of the American Expeditionary Force. The division's 28,000 Soldiers arrived on Europe's shores prepared to defeat the last wave of German offensives.
At Chateau-Thierry, along the Marne River, as French troops retreated from the German onslaught, men of the 7th Machine Gun Battalion of the 3rd Division were rushed to Chateau-Thierry and set up a defensive position along the Marne River.
Maj. Gen. Joseph Dickman, the division commander, issued his famous order in French, "Nous resterons la" ("We're staying there!"). The rest of the division moved into position along the Marne, and on July 15, took the brunt of what was to be the last German offensive of the war, the famous "Peace Storm."
As units on either side of the division were driven back, men of the 30th and 38th Regiments held their positions, defeating the Germans' bid for victory.
This feat of arms, in which they stood their ground like a rock at the Marne, was called by Gen. John "Blackjack" Pershing "...one of the most brilliant pages in the annals of military history" and earned the 3rd Infantry Division it's nickname: "The Marne Division".
Thanks for adding the historical content. It's a great reminder. I remember watching a story on either 60 minutes or 20/20 about the guards. I don't think people realize the work and effort that is required in order to be a part of this unit and it's only for a short time if memory serves.
Yes, thanks for citing this as I was not aware. It is totally awesome that they kept guard during the blizzard and as they have kept guard for all these years.