Gov't Shutsdown - Tomb of Unknowns Guarded

[Baba Louie]

From Foxnews:

At Arlington National Cemetery, soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknowns were given - for the first time ever - permission to abandon their posts and seek shelter, Superintendent John Metzler said. But they stood guard anyhow.

Some things are more important than a Hurricane/Tropical Storm that shut down DC, caused 17 deaths and left 4.5 million without power.

Just a comment

Adios

 

[El Tejon]

Hooray for them!

Are there any real men left on the East Coast? Yes, at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

 

[Baba Louie]

Not just any soldier

http://www.homeofheroes.com/gravesites/unknowns/0_unknowns_sentinels.html

Adios

 

[C.R.Sam]

Goodonem.

Sam

 

[RWK]

I am astonished that permission was given to abandon their sacred responsibility at Arlington (Isabel wasn’t “that bad†– and I live <15 miles from the Cemetery). However, I am completely unsurprised that the members of the Third Infantry did NOT desert their posts.

Good for them. We owe them.

 

[Futo Inu]

"Goodonem"

A hearty AMEN!

 

[Sven]

They still use M14s?

 

[Redlg155]

Yep. I saw an pic of them today on CNN.

I hope they never change to the M16. It just doesn't seem right.

Good Shooting
Red

 

[Ala Dan]

The Old Guard SALUTE !

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[ReadyontheRight]

 

[Nightcrawler]

I'm hardly suprised. Anyone with the level of dedication it takes to guard the Tomb in the first place probably isn't the type to let a little weather get in his way. Those gentlemen work very, very hard to maintain the dignity of the tomb, after all, and I'm not suprised at all that they'd ride out the storm and stay at their posts.

 

[MPFreeman]

I see two things that are good.

Good #1: The guards actually have a pair.

Good #2: The Federal Government shut down! - Glory, glory, amen.

 

[sm]

" Goodonem"
I agree !

 

[4v50 Gary]

Kudos to the Old Guard. I visited the tomb in winter and was impressed by their dedication. Was told that in the heat of summer, one collasped from heat stroke.

 

[Erik]

"Goodonem," indeed.

 

[444]

I actually got to go into the guard's barracks back in the early 80's and talk to some of them.
Hardcore seems to be putting it lightly. This was in the month of February and it was snowing. There was a changing of the guard while we were in the barracks. The guard came in, sat down and cleaned his weapon. Then he took off his coat. After spit shining the leather on his uniform he had a cup of coffee. One guy mentioned to me that he did not drive a car because he was afraid he would get a ticket and disgrace the tomb.
Am I surprised they did not abondon their post ?
NOT

I will guard everything within the limits of my post, and quit my post only when properly relieved.

 

[Sisco]

OUTSTANDING!

 

[Blain]

Nice to know that they still use a real rifle, the finest battle rifle ever created, to guard the tomb!

 

[UnknownSailor]

From looking at the pictures, I thought it was an M-1. I wonder if the rifle is still functional, and if they carry rounds for it somewhere....

 

[444]

When I was last there in the early 80s, they were carrying an M14 in a fiberglass stock.
I have no idea about ammo, but I seriously doubt it.

 

[Quartus]

Well done, men!



Man, I didn't even know that duty EXISTED when I was in the Army. I'd have been honored to guard that tomb.

 

[Baba Louie]

Probably not too many Tomb Raiders hanging around Arlington, the souls of those heros buried there would not allow it and most visitors know its one of the truly hallowed grounds (One of, if not THE only, true American Shrine IMO) on American soil.

(and to think that clinton's buddies were willing to sell plots to posers)

But the bayonet would still function perfectly fine if need be.

Adios

 

[cool45auto]

Man, that just makes you feel good about your country doesn't it?

 

[MessedUpMike]

Certainly impressive, but who would expect anything less from such a group. When Metro shut down, DC shut down. From what I saw the few people that stayed to do thier jobs did it well (including a packed starbucks). It does sound though that the old gaurd did it best of all. Good for them.

FWIW I believe they still us M-1s as the guns are unloaded and the absense of the mag would look out of place.

 

[dangerousdude]

I don't know M14's make excellent lightning rods, there really not guarding the tomb there more like honoring it and there nothing honorable about a human lightning rod.