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With the Hand of God He Will Be Delivered Home

By J. R. Neubeiser Technical Editor: Richard Azzaro Military Advisor: SGM (Retired) Gavin McIIvenna, USA Historian: Kara Newcomer Pictured: “White Niphetos roses by Williams Anderson on Artnet”. Updated October 3, 2024 The words of George M. Cohan’s popular song were being repeated by Americans in cinemas, corner bars and even churches. People decorated their streets, buildings and homes with red, white and blue flags and bunting. A war had been raging in Europe for more than three years, and...

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October 2020 – Bells of Peace Phone Application

Posted October 27, 2020 in Centennial

Veterans Day and the National Salute are just around the corner. The United States Foundation for the Commemoration of the World Wars (formerly the World War I Centennial Commission) partnered with...

October 2020 – National Salute Events

Posted October 22, 2020 in Centennial

We are getting word from all corners of the United States about different National Salute events being created in your communities. With the local and national restrictions of COVID some people are...

Centennial Tidbit #3 Released

Posted October 15, 2020 in Centennial

A “spotlight” video interview in our Centennial Tidbit series has been released and we want to thank Jerry Frazier and the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church for taking the time to show us their Never...

National Moment of Silence

Posted January 14, 2016 in Centennial

By Gavin McIlvenna, Centennial Committee Chairman On November 11th, members of the SHGTUS Centennial Committee facilitated the inaugural National Moment of Silence (NMS) project in five states...

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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.