
Gary Robertson
Tomb Position
SentinelTomb Relief
Tomb Dates
Jun 1961 - May 1962Society Membership
Lifetime MemberObituary
Gary Robertson, 73, of Mt. Rainier, Maryland, passed from our world surrounded by his family on April 21, 2014, following a courageous battle with cancer. Gary was born June 11, 1940 in Washington, DC and grew up in Hyattsville, Maryland. Gary attended Northwestern High School, where he was a star athlete and Washington Metropolitan area wrestling champion. Following high school, Gary spent several years in the US Army as a paratrooper, ranger and ultimately a relief commander guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery. Gary graduated from the University of Maryland and taught high school English for several years before turning to a career in accounting. Gary loved to hike and camp and had a passion for art, music and photography. During the last decades of his life, Gary and his wife turned selflessly to the care of children born with severe handicaps, initially as foster parents and ultimately as adoptive parents. Gary is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Daniel Robertson; and his adopted daughter, Anna Herres. Gary is survived by his wife, Abigail Herres; his first wife, JoAnn Robertson and their three children Mark Robertson, Dawn Coapstick (Bryan) and Paul Robertson; his adopted children Alfreda and Kentrell Herres; and his grandchildren Tyler and Rachel Coapstick.Memories & Condolences
He was a close & good friend of mine & my family. He was a good man and I think of him quite often.... LOVE YOU GARY
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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 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 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.