Missing In Action
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Foundation John Hamre, Neale Cosby, Richard Azzaro, and Mick Kicklighter Dear Colleagues, This article is being forwarded to capture the work of Joe Neubeiser, Joe Griffies, and Richard Azzaro. This article was inspired by a woman who assisted us in finding the grave of Chaplain Father Duff, who escorted the remains of the World War I Unknown from France in 1921. How we met her kind and generous assistance would in itself justify our telling you about her. But there...
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Remembering September 11th
Posted September 11, 2014One of the most frequent questions we receive from our " ask your own question" section here at tombguard.org is about September 11th, 2001. Here is my perspective. On September 11, 2001 I was...
Thomas Hudson Jones
Posted June 10, 2014Every soldier who has guarded the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier since the 1930s knows that Lorimer Rich and Thomas Hudson Jones were the two men chosen as the architect and the sculptor of the Tomb of...
Gold Star Mothers: A Memorial Day Memory
Posted May 26, 2014Lucky enough to have been one of the few who guarded the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier I can share a few thoughts about this very special day. My early memories of Memorial Day prior to time spent in...
Memorial Day is Every Day for One Verizon Volunteer (guest post)
Posted May 25, 2014 in Society SpotlightThis is a guest post (repost) from the Verizon News Center corporate blog, written by Peter Casale. The true meaning of Memorial Day goes much deeper than a three-day weekend. It’s a day of...
The Tragedy of Heroism: Charles W. Whittlesey
Posted December 1, 2013Charles Whittlesey was not one to acknowledge the accolades of others. He was a humble man but remained loyal to those with whom he served. His service in the First World War was the thing of legend...
Remembering 9/11/2001
Posted September 11, 2013 in Special ReportToday is the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. As our nation commemorates this day, the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier remembers the innocent individuals who lost their...
Jumping Over Hitler’s Wall
Posted June 6, 2013Late in the evening of June 5, 1944, small groups of young Americans from the All American and Screaming Eagle airborne divisions began boarding C47 aircraft for a short flight from airbases in...
A Moment of Personal Reflection - May 14, 1998
Posted May 14, 2013Today marks the 15th anniversary of the disinterment of the Vietnam Unknown. It seems hard to believe that the middle crypt has been empty for that long. It now serves as a memorial to those that...
Tomb Guard Identification Badge Ceremony Remarks
Posted April 19, 2013The following are remarks delivered by Neale Cosby on March 14, 2013 at Arlington National Cemetery upon the awarding of Tomb Guard Identification Badge #612 to PFC Jacob Davenport. Mr. Cosby is a...
Reflecting on the Vietnam Unknown
Posted April 4, 2013This is an abridged essay I wrote four years ago on Michael J. Blassie, the US Air Force lieutenant who would have been 65 years old today. 1LT Blassie was identified as the Vietnam Unknown in 1998....
Buglers of Arlington National Cemetery (Repost)
Posted March 27, 2013Repost from Buglers of Arlington National Cemetery by Jari Villanueva via TAPS BUGLER TAPS can be heard an average of thirty times a day at Arlington National Cemetery. The bugle call is sounded at...
To Provide a Military Guard
Posted March 22, 2013On March 2, 1926, Allen J. Furlow, a newly-elected Representative from Rochester, Minnesota, introduced what would become known as House Joint Resolution Number 185. The joint resolution called...
Man of Sacrifice - Don Hollender
Posted December 7, 2012Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) has its share of heroes. As far as the eye can see, the simple white headstones are testament to their sacrifice. At some point we learn of those that stand out....
Tomb Guards Never Forget… Adam Dickmyer
Posted October 28, 2012Today marks the two-year anniversary of the loss of Adam Dickmyer. He was killed in action on this day in 2010, in the Kanda-har Province of Afghanistan, protecting our freedoms. Adam was a husband,...
Frederick Douglass honors “The Unknown Loyal Dead” at Arlington National Cemetery [May 30, 1871]
Posted August 17, 2012This is a guest post by John Muller, from The Lion of Anacostia, via the Ghosts of DC. Arlington National Cemetery, the pre-Civil War home of Robert E. Lee, is a short Metro ride from Washington,...
Tomb Guards Never Forget: The Unknowns
Posted June 29, 2012I cry when I hear the national anthem of the United States, The Star-Spangled Banner. The tears, a mixture of joy, pride and sadness. Joy for the fact that I live in a country where I am free to...
Knowledge Corner: How to Become a Legend
Posted June 26, 2012You may think it is strange to pay tribute to a man more famous in death for something he didn’t do than for the actual heroic life he led. However, as many things are at Arlington National...
The Sentinel's Creed & Line 6
Posted June 22, 2012The Sentinel’s Creed is the Tomb Guard standard. The 99 words of the creed captures the true meaning of their duty. You will often hear the words “ Line 6″ [1] proudly uttered by Tomb Guards as they...
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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:
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.
