Donald J. Christie
Tomb Position
SentinelTomb Relief
Highest Military Rank
CorporalTomb Dates
Jan 1954 - Dec 1955Society Membership
--Select One--Obituary
Donald J. Christie age 88 of Wyckoff, died peacefully on Sunday, January 5, 2020. Born in Paterson, Don lived in Prospect Park and Hawthorne before moving to Wyckoff in 1957. He was a graduate of Rutgers University and served his country proudly in the United States Army as a Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
In his early career, Don worked side by side with his father-in-law in the family business, C. Van Howling & Sons, a building moving company located in Wallington. He later became a well-known realtor in Wyckoff working for Weichert Realtors. Don was very active in the Wyckoff Reformed Church where he served as Deacon, Elder, and Vice President of the Consistory. He also served as a trustee of the Christian Health Care Center.
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3d United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)Support the Society
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Did you know?
Are the shoes specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet?
The shoes are standard issue military dress shoes. They are built up so the sole and heel are equal in height. This allows the Sentinel to stand with a straight back and perpendicular to the ground. A side effect of this is that the Sentinel can "roll" on the outside of the build up walking down the mat. Done correctly, the hat and bayonet will appear to not "bob" up and down with each step. It gives a more formal, fluid and smooth look to the walk, rather than a "marching" appearance.
The soles have a steel tip on the toe and a "horseshoe" steel plate on the heel. This prevents wear on the sole and allows the Sentinel to move smoothly during his movements when he turns to face the Tomb and then back down the mat.
Then there is the "clicker". It is a shank of steel attached to the inside of the face of the heel build-up on each shoe. It allows the Sentinel to heel click during certain movements. A guard change is considered great when all the heel clicks fall together and sound as one click. The guard change is occasionally done in the "silent" mode (as a sign of devotion to the Unknowns) with no voice commands - every thing is done in relation to the heel clicks and on specific counts.
