Dave Rappaport Speech from Reunion 2023
Speech presented to the 2023 Gathering of Tomb Guards Banquet for the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 4, 2023. Dear Honored dinner guests, It is indeed an honor to be invited to join all of you here this evening at this annual Gathering of the Guards Banquet. And a distinct privilege to be able to address all of you. Before I share a few prepared remarks let me first thank all of you active or retired military service members for your service as well as any...
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Key Dates in the history of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Posted September 24, 2023 in Special ReportWorld War I Unknown Soldier (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) December 21, 1920 – Congressman Hamilton Fish III (R-NY) introduces legislation for the return of an Unknown American and his burial in...
Yellow Rose Bouquets & Wreaths in Commemoration of the End of the Vietnam War Circular Letter
Posted January 17, 2023 in Special ReportFlowers can speak for us when we struggle to express our feelings in words. One of the more moving experiences as a Sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is witnessing how flowers expressed the...
Tango Alpha Lima Podcast Released
Posted November 1, 2022 in Special ReportPlease take a moment to check out the American Legion Tango Alpha Lima Podcast with former Sergeant of the Guard Chelsea Porterfield. Over the years they have interviews a couple of former Tomb...
USS Olympia Commemorates 101years of Service to the Unknown Soldier
Posted October 27, 2022 in Special ReportDuring the lead up to the Centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (1921-2021) the Society dove deeper into the history of each of the Unknown Soldiers buried on the east plaza of the Memorial...
Meuse-Argonne Flower Ceremony
Posted October 27, 2022 in Special ReportOn October 24, 2022 the staff of the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery supported the Society by laying flowers at the graves of the Unknown Soldier candidates not selected in 1921 to become the World...
Passing of Society Member
Posted October 25, 2022 in Special ReportIt is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of a brother Tomb Guard and Life Society Member, Darrell Weber (1962-63) on October 7, 2022. You may find his obituary HERE Rest in Peace...
History Side Note
Posted September 20, 2022 in Special ReportPrior to the 1984 Vietnam Interment, there stood a plaque on the plaza to let all visitors to Tomb of the Unknown Soldier know that the ongoing search for an unknown from the Vietnam war yielded no...
American History Essay Winner - The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Posted September 8, 2022 in Special ReportDuring the National Commemoration of the Centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (1921-2021), the Society proposed to the federal government that an essay contest be created with the theme "Why...
Sentinels Connecting with Veterans
Posted August 13, 2022 in Special ReportThe Society is contacted daily with the public asking questions, requesting presentations, or just wanting to share photos. So when the following email came in from a hospice nurse, it caught our...
Never Forget Garden Update - August 12, 2022
Posted August 12, 2022 in Special ReportThank you for supporting the Society with the Never Forget Garden Project. The Never Forget Garden Project has a new email address. We decided to create a consolidated email for information sharing...
How to get a Niphetos Rose
Posted August 1, 2022 in Special ReportWe have received many requests for information on the "Niphetos" rose and wanted to pass this along. The Niphetos Rose has been difficult to acquire because the variety being very old has fallen...
Press Release - July 22, 2022
Posted July 22, 2022 in Special ReportPlease see the attached press release.
Society Receives the DAR President Generals Medallion
Posted July 21, 2022 in Special Report"With deep appreciation and immense gratitude for your organization’s efforts in preserving the history of the Tomb of the Unknown Solider – including the incredible Centennial Commemorations held...
The Queen and The Tomb
Posted July 8, 2022 in Special ReportI am sure all of you are aware that this year was the Platinum Jubilee celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years of service as monarch of Great Britain. She became Queen at the early age of...
Legacy Members support the Platoon
Posted July 8, 2022 in Special ReportOn June 4th, 2022, members of the Tomb Guard Platoon and their families were invited to the inaugural BBQ hosted by the Society and the legacy family of COL Neale Cosby (1958-60). The Society Vice...
Stonehenge Memorial Never Forget Garden Support
Posted July 2, 2022 in Special ReportOn Memorial Day 2022 former Society President Gavin McIlvenna (1997-98) and Bereavement Director Amy McIlvenna visited the Stonehenge Memorial in Goldendale, WA to see how the Never Forget Garden was...
“In Valor There is Hope”
Posted May 16, 2022 in Society SpotlightOn May 11, 2022 SFC (Ret) Chelsea Porterfield (2020-21) was the key note speaker during the Federal Protective Service annual wreath ceremony during National Police Week in Washington DC. As a former...
Tomb Guard Identification Badge Ceremony
Posted May 16, 2022 in Society SpotlightOn 19 May 2022 at 1030, there will be an award ceremony to present the Tomb Guard Identification Badge (TGIB) to the following new Sentinels: Sergeant Jacob Sprosty (TGIB #697) Sergeant Kamille...
Operation Pass the Torch
Posted May 8, 2022 in Special ReportThe Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier asks Americans to join us in our national campaign to observe Memorial Day in the way it was intended per the National Moment of...
Leadership and Loss
Posted April 12, 2022 in Special ReportThere is one, single thing that moved me the most during the France Tour to honor the selection of the World War I Unknown Soldier. I wandered around all those First World War grave markers and saw...
A Gold Star Mother Remembers
Posted April 12, 2022 in Special ReportThe forest smell in Belleau Wood, the blanket of morning fog over farm fields just north of Paris, a beautiful sunrise over Omaha beach… pristine, manicured, bucolic loveliness; these images play...
New Committee Formed
Posted January 31, 2022 in Society SpotlightThe Board of Directors has approved the creation of the Commemorative Committee within the Society. Commemorative Committee will coordinate with organizations that have ties to the Tomb of the...
October 11, 2021 - TUS100 Update
Posted October 11, 2021 in Special ReportNew update with information on events in France and the US, along with the US Senate Resolution. Don't forget to check out the list of events....
Standing the Watch Alone - Part 4
Posted June 27, 2021 in Society SpotlightTurning Home – Part 4 With the ceremony complete on the Canberra, the Boston turned north-west and set a course for the Norfolk Naval Base. The Blandy pulled along the port side of Canberra and began...
Standing the Watch Alone - Part 3
Posted June 27, 2021 in Society SpotlightThe Rendezvous – Part 3 The USSBoston (CA-69) was launched in August 1942 as a heavy cruiser of the Baltimore class. In January 1952 the Boston was reconfigured and reclassified as a guided missile...
Standing the Watch Alone - Part 2
Posted June 27, 2021 in Society SpotlightEpinal – Part 2 Planning for the selection of the Trans-Atlantic Unknown candidate was started by US Army Communications Zone Europe (COMZEUR) in late 1957, prior to involvement of Quartermaster...
Standing the Watch Alone - Part 1
Posted June 27, 2021 in Society Spotlight“When most people think about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, they think of the United States Army. Most are unaware that every time the Unknown Soldier was brought home to the United States...
With the Hand of God He Will Be Delivered Home
Posted May 15, 2021 in Special ReportThe words of George M. Cohan’s popular song were being repeated by Americans in cinemas, corner bars and even churches. People decorated their streets, buildings and homes with red, white and blue...
Standing the Watch Alone
Posted May 15, 2021 in Society SpotlightOver the past few months the Centennial Committee has been working on the next edition to the stories behind the transportation of the Unknown Soldiers to the United States mainland. The first...
Centennial Tidbit Spotlight - "Why is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier important?"
Posted March 22, 2021 in Special ReportThe Centennial Committee recently asked a question about "Why is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier important?" Not only to the individual, but to what it means to our nation. In this video we share the...
Standing the watch at Sea in 1958
Posted December 31, 2020 in Special ReportWhen people think about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, they think of the United States Army. Most are unaware that every time the Unknown Soldier was brought home it was aboard a US Navy vessel. In...
The Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Turns 20
Posted November 1, 2019 in Society SpotlightSociety of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 1999 We formed a Society that provided the infrastructure needed for Tomb Guards, past and present, to continue serving the mission as...
Book Review: The Unknowns by Patrick K. O'Donnell
Posted April 14, 2018 in Special ReportI was recently sent an advanced reading copy of The Unknowns by the editor and was also asked to write up a review for the Society website. The Unknowns will be released on May 22, 2018. Advanced...
Busting Historical Myths with Professor Buzzkill
Posted November 6, 2015 in Special ReportWe are excited to announce that Lifetime Member Dennis McMahon (TGIB #320), was recently the interview subject of "Professor Buzzkill". Professor Buzzkill is a blog and podcast that explores history...
Remembering SGT Franklin...
Posted October 2, 2015 in Special ReportMarvin “Lyle” Franklin Jr. was born on July 15, 1945 in Oklahoma City, where he graduated from Putnam City High School in 1963. He was a member of the Ioway Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, the Putnam...
Bonus Army
Posted July 28, 2015 in Special Report“The whole scene was pitiful.” July 28 marks the anniversary of the Army’s role in ousting the veterans of World War I from the national capital. The so-called “Bonus Army” was comprised of veterans...
Top of the World Turned Upside Down
Posted June 30, 2015 in Special ReportFour and one half years ago, at the age of fifty-nine, I discovered the world of alpine mountaineering. Since that beginning I have reached the summits of Mt. Shasta and Mt. Whitney in California,...
Remembering 9/11/2001
Posted September 11, 2013 in Special ReportToday is the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. As our nation commemorates this day, the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier remembers the innocent individuals who lost their...
The Unknowns Project
Posted June 2, 2012 in Special ReportThe Society would like to introduce a film project - The Unknowns - in support [1] of its producer, Ethan Morse. Ethan is a Tomb Guard Member of the Society. The Unknowns, as described by Ethan, is:...
Support the Society
The Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (SHGTUS) is able to provide our programs, events, assistance, scholarships, and services due to the generosity of its members, organizations, and individuals. SHGTUS does not receive institutional funding. Note: The Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your contributions may be fully tax deductible.
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Did you know?
How many Sentinels have been female?
There have been over 680 tomb guards awarded the badge since 1958 when we started counting. There are hundreds more from the year 1926 when the Army started guarding the Tomb. The 3rd US Infantry (The Old Guard) is the unit that has been given the duty of guarding the Tomb. It was given this sacred duty in 1948. The Old Guard was -- and still is -- considered a combat unit. As an Infantry unit, females were not permitted in the ranks for many years. It wasn't until 1994 that females were permitted to volunteer to become a Sentinel when the 289th Military Police Company was attached to the Old Guard. The MP branch is a combat support unit and includes females.
In 1996, SGT Heather Johnson became the first female to earn the Tomb Guard Identification Badge. She volunteered for duty in June 1995 and earned her badge in 1996. However, SGT Johnson was not the only female Sentinel. Since then, there have been a total of five female Sentinels awarded the Tomb Guard Identification Badge:
SGT Danyell Wilson earned
her badge in 1997
SSG Tonya Bell received hers in 1998
SGT Ruth
Hanks earned her badge in June 2015
SFC Chelsea Porterfield earned her badge in 2021
Several other units have since been attached to the Old Guard -- food
service, transportation, medics, etc. -- so now females have an ever
greater opportunity to become a Sentinel. Females must meet the same
requirements as the male soldiers to be eligible to volunteer at the
Tomb. the only difference is that females have a minimum height of 5'8"
-- which is the same standard to be a member of the Old Guard.
