9/11 Ceremony - Paris 16EME
3 years ago
The History of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 26 paintings by artist Dave Rappaport going on exhibit in France (three locations).
Presented by the Military Women's Memorial and the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
With special gratitude to Le Souvenir Français.
Current schedule for the portrait exhibit (3 sites in France) for 2023:
Châlons-en-Champagne: Sept 1-11
Verdun Memorial: TBD October
Château of Castries: TBD October
1. Châlons-en-Champagne (Foire/Fairgrounds)
https://foiredechalons.com/at Le Souvenir Français space
2. Mémorial de Verdun - Champ de Bataille www.memorial-verdun.fr
3. Château de Castries www.amischateaudecastries.fr/
Would you like to learn more about this exibit and the history of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier? Download your copy of the exhibition online (in English and in French), all 26 paintings by artist Dave Rappaport, which will be in France September and October 2023.
Download: History of the Unknown Soldier (.pdf)
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Learn More
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:
SGT Danyell Wilson earned her badge in 1997SSG Tonya Bell received hers in 1998
SGT Ruth Hanks earned her badge in June 2015
SFC Chelsea Porterfield earned her badge in 2021
SGT Kamille Torres earned her badge in 2022
SPC Jessica Kwiatkowski earned her badge in 2023
SGT Kaylee Johnston earned her badge in 2024
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.
