Breaking Ground: America’s First Black Tomb Guard
Society Legacy Member, Phil Garrison recently told us that his documentary short, “Breaking Ground: America’s First Black Tomb Guard” has been officially accepted to a second film festival! The first was in Brooklyn and this recent festival is in Seattle. “Breaking Ground” is a 5+ minute tribute solely about Fred Moore. It is currently not available to the public until after it screens at the film festival in Seattle on Sept 28-October 2, 2022, but you can see the details at...
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The Impact of 12 Minutes
Posted July 13, 2022 in Society Spotlightby SFC (Ret) Chelsea Porterfield (2020-21) The Impact of 12 Minutes It’s 7:20am on the 29th of September 2021, SPC Torres is quietly standing at attention in the mirrors, she has natural command...
Update from the President
Posted July 8, 2022 in Society SpotlightHello fellow Tomb Guards and Society Members. I hope this newsletter finds you well and in great spirits. Summer is upon us, and the weather everywhere is getting warmer each day. I hope everyone...
Tomb Guard Myth Series #2 Released
Posted June 22, 2022 in Society SpotlightTomb Guards have extensive knowledge of the history behind the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Over the years we have found that there are many myths surrounding this...
“In Valor There is Hope”
Posted May 16, 2022 in Society SpotlightOn May 11, 2022 SFC (Ret) Chelsea Porterfield (2020-21) was the key note speaker during the Federal Protective Service annual wreath ceremony during National Police Week in Washington DC. As a former...
Tomb Guard Identification Badge Ceremony
Posted May 16, 2022 in Society SpotlightOn 19 May 2022 at 1030, there will be an award ceremony to present the Tomb Guard Identification Badge (TGIB) to the following new Sentinels: Sergeant Jacob Sprosty (TGIB #697) Sergeant Kamille...
Tomb Guard Myth Series
Posted May 9, 2022 in Society SpotlightThe Society has launched a new video campaign addressing the many myths and questions Tomb Guards hear. Please check out Tomb Guard Myth Series #1...
Pilgrimage to France
Posted April 12, 2022 in Society SpotlightThe Pilgrimage to France to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the World War I Unknown was a plan long in the making, but well planned and constructed by many hands indeed. Although it took...
New Committee Formed
Posted January 31, 2022 in Society SpotlightThe Board of Directors has approved the creation of the Commemorative Committee within the Society. Commemorative Committee will coordinate with organizations that have ties to the Tomb of the...
2021 Reunion Wrap-Up
Posted January 2, 2022 in Society SpotlightWe have just completed our largest, most complicated Reunion and from the feedback I’ve received so far, it appears that we have a success story to tell. I think that those people who attended will...
2022-23 Board of Directors
Posted January 1, 2022 in Society SpotlightThank you to everyone who took the time to vote on the most recent Board of Directors ballot. This year there was a significant increase in members who stepped up and put their name in the hat for...
From the President-Elect
Posted January 1, 2022 in Society SpotlightHello to all our fine SHGTUS members. I’d like to start off by thanking everyone who had the chance to attend the Reunion this year. What a great time we all had, right? Its success is due to each of...
From the President
Posted December 31, 2021 in Society SpotlightI remember five years ago after the reunion waking up at the Cosby River house where we had been staying and looking out over foggy Belmont Bay thinking about how my term as President was not clearly...
TUS100 Update - October 30, 2021
Posted October 30, 2021 in Society SpotlightAll, thank you for your patience as the Society conducted official ceremonies in France to commemorate the Centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Please see the UPDATE along with information...
Centennial Flag Project Update
Posted October 29, 2021 in Society SpotlightDownload the UPDATED Centennial Flag Project brief (v7)...
TUS100 France Update - Centennial Flag @ Chalons-en-Champagne
Posted October 29, 2021 in Society SpotlightThe UPDATE on the Centennial Flag and its use during official ceremonies in France for the 100th anniversary of the selection of the World War I Unknown Soldier in Chalons-en-Champagne....
Standing the Watch Alone - Part 4
Posted June 27, 2021 in Society SpotlightTurning Home – Part 4 With the ceremony complete on the Canberra, the Boston turned north-west and set a course for the Norfolk Naval Base. The Blandy pulled along the port side of Canberra and began...
Standing the Watch Alone - Part 3
Posted June 27, 2021 in Society SpotlightThe Rendezvous – Part 3 The USSBoston (CA-69) was launched in August 1942 as a heavy cruiser of the Baltimore class. In January 1952 the Boston was reconfigured and reclassified as a guided missile...
Standing the Watch Alone - Part 2
Posted June 27, 2021 in Society SpotlightEpinal – Part 2 Planning for the selection of the Trans-Atlantic Unknown candidate was started by US Army Communications Zone Europe (COMZEUR) in late 1957, prior to involvement of Quartermaster...
Standing the Watch Alone - Part 1
Posted June 27, 2021 in Society Spotlight“When most people think about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, they think of the United States Army. Most are unaware that every time the Unknown Soldier was brought home to the United States...
Standing the Watch Alone
Posted May 15, 2021 in Society SpotlightOver the past few months the Centennial Committee has been working on the next edition to the stories behind the transportation of the Unknown Soldiers to the United States mainland. The first...
Newest Tomb Guards
Posted January 17, 2021 in Society SpotlightWe are very pleased to announce that the following Tomb Guards have passed the Tomb Guard Identification Badge test: SPC Pulte (TGIB #686)SPC Springer (TGIB #687)SFC Porterfield (TGIB #688) The TGIB...
The Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Turns 20
Posted November 1, 2019 in Society SpotlightSociety of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 1999 We formed a Society that provided the infrastructure needed for Tomb Guards, past and present, to continue serving the mission as...
From the President
Posted July 7, 2017 in Society Spotlightby Gavin McILvenna (1997-98), SHGTUS President It been six months since I became the President, and it’s been even faster paced that I imagined it would be. I set many goals for 2017 back in January...
The Society has lost its champion, I have lost my best friend...
Posted July 7, 2017 in Society Spotlightby Richard Azzaro (1963-65) "With heavy heart, I want to let you know that we lost a good soldier last night. He fought hard to the end.” With these words, a dutiful and loving son announced the...
Training the Honor Guard
Posted April 13, 2016 in Society Spotlightby Benjamin Bell, (2001-2004) In January, SHGTUS received a request to train the Tampa, Florida based Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) Honor Guard. Back in 2012, several of the officers...
The path from straight and narrow to Broken Arrow
Posted March 31, 2016 in Society SpotlightThis quarter we are highlighting one of our members businesses, Broken Arrow Emergency Systems, which was founded by Eric Delaune (1997-2000). The company is located in Lafayette, Louisiana and...
Former Sentinel in the Spotlight
Posted September 30, 2015 in Society SpotlightFormer Sentinel Roy May (2002-04) has led a varied life — active duty soldier, Aggie Yell Leader and now barbecue pitmaster. May, Class of 2015 and Aggie Yell Leader from 2013-2015, has ventured into...
The Last Walk
Posted September 30, 2015 in Society SpotlightOn October 2, 2015 the first double Last Walk Ceremony in memory was held in the Memorial Display Room in Arlington National Cemetery. Just hours prior to this Sergeant Patrick Leamy and Sergeant...
International Beard Competition
Posted September 30, 2015 in Society SpotlightI retired in 2013 and as soon as I signed out I stopped shaving and haven’t shaved since. It wasn’t an infantile response to authority as much as it was an “I’m just tired of shaving every morning”...
SHGTUS Reunion Highlights - Remarks from Patrick K. Hallinan, Executive Director, Army National Military Cemeteries
Posted January 7, 2015 in Society SpotlightAt our 2014 reunion banquet we were honored to have Patrick K. Hallinan as guest speaker. Mr. Hallinan served as Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery from October 2010 to July 2013. Here are...
SHGTUS Reunion Highlights - 'Arlington Sons' Performance
Posted October 19, 2014 in Society SpotlightThere were many highlights from this past reunion. Perhaps the most unique was the performance of the musical piece, Arlington Sons, by David and Richard Pittsinger. David is a renowned Broadway star...
Four SHGTUS Members recieve THE ORDER OF SAINT MAURICE
Posted October 16, 2014 in Society SpotlightLast Saturday night at our 2014 banquet, four SHGTUS founding members received The Order of Saint Maurice on behalf of the National Infantry Association. The Order of Saint Maurice has five levels. A...
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...
Support the Society
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?
Are the shoes specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet?
The shoes are standard issue military dress shoes. They are built up so the sole and heel are equal in height. This allows the Sentinel to stand with a straight back and perpendicular to the ground. A side effect of this is that the Sentinel can "roll" on the outside of the build up walking down the mat. Done correctly, the hat and bayonet will appear to not "bob" up and down with each step. It gives a more formal, fluid and smooth look to the walk, rather than a "marching" appearance.
The soles have a steel tip on the toe and a "horseshoe" steel plate on the heel. This prevents wear on the sole and allows the Sentinel to move smoothly during his movements when he turns to face the Tomb and then back down the mat.
Then there is the "clicker". It is a shank of steel attached to the inside of the face of the heel build-up on each shoe. It allows the Sentinel to heel click during certain movements. A guard change is considered great when all the heel clicks fall together and sound as one click. The guard change is occasionally done in the "silent" mode (as a sign of devotion to the Unknowns) with no voice commands - every thing is done in relation to the heel clicks and on specific counts.
