The Tomb Guard

Lionel Ambrose Miller

Tomb Position

Sentinel

Tomb Relief

1st

Highest Military Rank

SP4

Tomb Dates

Jan 1956 - Dec 1957

Society Membership

--Select One--

Obituary

Lionel Ambrose Miller 80, of Apopka, passed away on February 22, 12015. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and moved to Apopka in 2013 after having lived in Eustis for a number of years. He was a retired concessionaire in the food service industry and while serving in the United States Army was a Guard of The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

He was a member of the First Christian Church of Central Florida. Lionel is survived by his wife Barbara; they were married for 56 years. Also surviving are his daughters; Cheryl Laws of Apopka and Gina (Pal) Fontana of Ft. Myers, Florida, eleven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, his mother-in-law Kathryn Romans of Apopka also Lionel Alan Miller, his son, who passed away before him in 2008.

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Units & Campaigns

3d United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)

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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 700 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 Johnsen 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 eight female Sentinels awarded the Tomb Guard Identification Badge:

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.