Tomb of Unknown Soldier Changing of the guard

[bobbyjustbobby1]

not too bad.

[eemcsqrd]

You must be so proud of your son! You have raised a true, honorable, and decent man. You and your family have my thanks and respect.

[tombsoldierparent]

Normally they do weapon inspections unless the weather is bad as in raining or very cold. On this day it was extremely cold and very windy with a bit of mist.

[ihategeorgedubyabush]

@sprucepatherkmt

dude why do u hv to be an asshole

cant u just respect the situation

fukin brit

[mikethe4th]

this was one of my favorite parts of my new york / dc trip

[sprucepantherkmt]

rofl americans gotta be told when to act respectful rofl! no eating big macs and loud yelling at the changing of the guard ppl!

[ObamaTheRealLoser]

@sprucepantherkmt HAHAHAHAHAHAHA "No eating Big Macs at the changing of the gaurds" Americans aren't all fat you know...but most are...and I live in America so I know.

[glukaschlok]

@sprucepantherkmt The best part of your comment is that you're a morbidly obese American woman.

[dekkaka1]

Semper fi! Greatings from Hungary!

[RYLOC1824]

which one is ur son

[Colt28683]

I'm an old Marine, but these guys are just unreal as this goes on 24 hrs a day 365 days a year, there are no holidays for them or the ones they guard.

[XAeolusX]

Intense

[jubjub194]

These guys are really tall. :p

[dilwo]

@jubjub194 yeah, one of the requirements is you have to be 5'10 -6'2

[halfpint2412]

You must be so proud of your son thank you for sharing your videos it gives people like me a chance to see such a beautiful site. I have a nephew in Iraq right now and just praying for a safe return home.

[carlosyamara]

This video brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it. The respect that these soldiers show to their fallen comrade is incredible. You must be extremely proud.

[SeamusOLepreachaun]

That was impresive, as a person who is a lover of all things military it really is great to see soldiers who do this and who have an unwavering dedication to their service and their country, I wish the Irish Army did something like this, RESPECT!!!

[D0DGERA]

Thats not marching, thats more of a swift walking which looks so weird, but very well done.

[Link4681]

isnt he supposed to check the gun?

[kyuubaclan]

24 hours a day 365 days a year

[flamesgoalie9]

@javaspice 1 hour in the winter at post. 30 min in summer at post but a 24 hr shift with one day off in between

[laxdefender56]

That's really cool and you are unamerican if you dis video

[jpatlynch]

I do have a question. I notice there is no rifle inspection in this ceremony. I notice that is also the case in the rain. I presume it is the case here because of the cold temperature. What are the rules? Does anybody know?

[LamboK28992]

@jpatlynch The gun is unloaded. Its only ceremonial.

[SpartanicalSystem]

Tombsoldierparent, Are the weapons they carry loaded and able to fire, or are they for ceremony sakes?

[halofighter1993]

@SpartanicalSystem spatan their rifles are able to fire!

[SpartanicalSystem]

@halofighter1993 Has there ever been a time where they have fired it.. OR has there ever been a time where they had to detain someone or something along those along those lines?

[LamboK28992]

@SpartanicalSystem Crazy anti-war faggots try to spray paint it all the time and they always get arrested. The gun is unloaded, it is only ceremonial. It is a perfectly functioning rifle though.

[MrBillyt12345]

@LamboK28992 r u serious some scum try and spray paint the tomb of the unknown soldier. im from scotland

[varus1985]

With all due respect, what are they wearing on their head? It looks like something we used to call "bear-pussy", when i was in the royal guard.

[tombsoldierparent]

Yes, My son is in this video.. actually he is in all the videos I have done. I posted a few more last week, so check them out.

Their shifts are 24 hours on, 24 off. I am going to post a video of a story CBS news did on them. Thanks!

[78byers145]

you should be a very proud parent. i am 14 an just went to DC an watched this. its a very cool thing what they do. everything must be perfect. im very glad your son has done this. thank you for posting this on here. tell your son he is a very respected man

[tombsoldierparent]

I just got back from another trip to DC and Arlington Cemetary. As always I leave with the utmost respect for the Sentenals. I've been fortunate enough to see behind the scenes and get the full perspective of the on going rituals. It's amazing. I will post more videos soon. Thank you to those of you who have respect for the Tomb Soldiers!

[spurtong]

Vendo, they are important. They're Infantry..

[tombsoldierparent]

One bit of info for you Vendo.... they move slowly because they are on a 21 count with every move they make. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary. He does not execute an about face. He stops on the 21st step, then turns and faces the Tomb for 21 seconds. Then he turns to face back down the mat, changes his weapon to the outside shoulder, counts 21 seconds, then steps off for another 21 step walk down the mat.

[tombsoldierparent]

He faces the Tomb at each end of the 21 step walk for 21 seconds. The Sentinel then repeats this over and over until he is relieved at the Guard Change.

[Odessa45]

Show some respect. The men buried in that tomb sacrificed everything & died to provide you with the very freedom that you seem to take for granted.

[Odessa45]

Maybe you should volunteer for service, get some discipline & training. Then pick up a weapon & stand a watch somewhere. Perhaps then you will better understand the importance of what the Sentinels are doing...and why they perform their duties as they do.

Ever been to DC? Have you ever been to Arlington?

[Chunkshank]

I witnessed this ceremony last week during my first trip to the capitol. It was absolutely spellbinding. I wasn't expecting such a high rush of emotion, but it got the better of me, and I'm not ashamed to say that I shed tears on this most hallowed of ground.

[cowboybill1943]

the guard is very special. most don't know this,they live under the tome for 2 years,they can never drink or cuss for the rest of their lives,the guard takes 21 steps,pauses for 21 secs and the rifle is always away from the tome.

[irepva]

this is very untrue, dont believe those emails that are floating around

[tombsoldierparent]

Untrue... there is a lot of untrue info out there and the living under the tomb is one of them as well as drinking or cursing. BUT if they do anything to disgrace their badge it will be taken away from them permanantly. This is true for the rest of their life. I have a picture of the badge board from the tomb quarters, you can see "revoked" numerous times.

[irepva]

What i was responding to had nothing of the badge revocation.

[HattieLovesCattie]

Not drink for the rest of their lives?I don't but that.

[onemileaway]

Do they not inspect the arms in cold weather? When the Sgt. of the guard inspects the weapon it such an amazing thing, but I am sure it is even more difficult in cold weather. God Bless each one of those men!

[tombsoldierparent]

Yes, they always do weapons inspection, even in the winter. They actually mist their gloves with water to keep them from slipping off of the weapons. I was there last year in April and watched them do it. It was freezing cold and I could not imagine going out there with wet gloves. My hands nearly froze with my warm gloves. It's all mind over matter. Some have what it takes but most don't.

[onemileaway]

Correct me if I am wrong, but in this vid the Sgt of the guard walks up to the relief, visually examines him, than moves to a position behind the relief, WITHOUT inspecting the weapon., which is the highlight of the ceremony.

[irepva]

the weapons inspection is only done while the sentinels are wearing while gloves, in this video, the weather is below 45 degrees and the guards in trooper cap and black leather gloves

[tombsoldierparent]

You are right, I was wrong. See, that's what you get when you talk to a Mom of a soldier. =) I went to D.C. last week and spent the day at the Tomb. I asked my son then. He said nope, if the weather is bad, including too cold, they may not do a weapons inspection. Sorry, my bad! I got some new videos and will try to post soon.

[richardlightner1]

The Old Guard from the 3rd Infantry Brigade has been doing this honor from the beginning. It has been the Army's 3rd Infantry Old Guard privilege thus far to do this. Personally, no other service could do this post justice. I've seen honor guards from all services perform and the Army's is by far the best.

[ilikecheese272]

Does only the Army get to do this no other branch of service

[djrock889]

Only the army. The Third Infantry Division has a special platoon for honor guard, they do funerals, guard the tomb and alot of other things.

[warc8us]

The chain gates open and, upon the cool silence broken only by the passing of some high jet, the quieted crowd begin to shuffle out. And the Old Guard marches on.

[pericolace]

Abandon the barbecues and the trips to the beach. Instead, use this day in humble rememberance of the sacrifices that our men in the Armed Forces have given to their country.

[MelNemo]

omg!!! i was there 2 days ago with my school. but i live in florida. i strted to cry when my chaperone told me that there were 30,000 graves.

[CSteveRide]

I believe there are 300,000 gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery. The first soldiers were buried there in 1865.

[USAF0016]

Why didn't he inspect his rifle like the relief sergeant normally does??

[stevenffr1100]

bandeto- the guards have to be 6 ft and over be part of the honor guard every guard is hand selected during his basic training to be int eh old guard it all depends on asvab scores and also pt test score this is a very high honor to be a guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier

[tombsoldierparent]

Actually, they do accept some that are a bit under 6 feet if they match the rest of the criteria. But they do all seem to have similiar features. I've seen most of the up close and personal. My son is one of them ;)

Also YES they spend HOURS on their uniforms. It's part of the sacrafice and respect they give. They use cans and cans of black kiwi shoe polish. If a shoe gets a little scuff they will sand it down and spend hours shinning them. I have watched the process and it is amazing.

[Bandeto]

I don't know if it's the angle or something, but those guards look VERY tall!

Excellent video.

[ebruceii]

God bless our fallen heroes and our Vets. Thank a vet EVERY chance you get. I DO.

[mrtangerine999]

man, those belts look tighter than tight. i heared it takes hours and hours to shine the shoes, polish the medals, clean everything else. and finally even putting on the uniform takes a while. man, those guards sure are dedicated.

[AGGIELANDFAN]

I didn't know they wore different headgear for the winter

[greedycompany]

I saw this in May of 02 as a sixth grader and it was kinda odd how humbling it was even though I was so young

[challengeauthority]

My wife and I were privileged to watch this in 1993. As a disabled Vietnam veteran, I am humbled to realize that these men do this routine day in and day out, day after day, year after year, to honor our fallen comrades. Salute to the U.S. and our fallen heroes!

[youngmindedman]

@challengeauthority my wife and I had the honor of seeing this in 2008 Dec.27th 4pm. It is very awesome, and very moving. i almost cried.

[SteelRain1987]

What happened to the weapon inspection?

[Freakgrl04]

Yeah I was going to ask that too!

[irepva]

They dont do the weapon inspection when wearing the rainjacket or the black leather gloves. There is a greater chance of making a mistake when wearing these items.

[g54200]

Could the guards be enterend into the Guinesses book of records for the number of saluted rendered to the Tomb of the Unknowns?

[brycesdaddy]

WOW

[budbowl77]

Now this is honoring the fallen..This is the greatest nation in the world...I'm so proud to be an American and proud of our soldiers, sailors airmen and marines who protect us...

[budbowl77]

Now this is honoring the fallen..This is the greatest nation in the world...I'm so proud to be an American and proud of our soldiers, sailors airmen and marines who protect us...