Donald A. Richburg
Tomb Position
SentinelTomb Relief
Tomb Dates
Jan 1959 - May 1960Society Membership
Lifetime MemberObituary
Mr. Don Richburg, age 71, of Roscoe, Texas, passed from this life on Thursday, March 5, 2009 at Rolling Plains Hospital in Sweetwater, Texas. Funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church in Roscoe, Texas, with burial in the Roscoe Cemetery. Don was born on October 19, 1937 in Loraine, Texas, to Homer and Opal Richburg. He was a 1956 graduate of Roscoe High School. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Army and served as an Honor Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia. He returned to Roscoe where he married his high school sweetheart on June 4, 1962. He was an engineer on the RS&P Railroad. He was a farmer and rancher until the time of his death. He was a member of the Roscoe Lions Club, Roscoe School Board, Nolan Coliseum Board, American Legion, a member of the First Salem Lutheran Church, Roscoe and the First United Methodist Church of Loraine. He was also a supporter of local 4-H and FFA youth, being a charter member of the Roscoe Swine Breeders Association and founder of the West Texas Rehab Center Benefit pig show and sale. He is preceded in death by his parents Homer and Opal Richburg and a brother, Jerry Richburg.Outside Tributes
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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.
