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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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...
Standing the Watch Alone - Part 3
Posted June 27, 2021 in Society SpotlightThe Rendezvous – Part 3 The USS Boston (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{!{rs}!}“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...
June 26, 2021 – TUS100 Update
Posted June 26, 2021 in CentennialUpdate for the end of June highlighting new event calendar, and Centennial Tidbits #37 and #38. Download the update HERE....
White Rose Bouquet of the Centennial
Posted June 24, 2021 in CentennialIn keeping with Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Circular Letter #4, planners for all Centennial floral tributes are encouraged to use White Roses in wreaths and floral...
June 7, 2021 - TUS100 Update
Posted June 7, 2021 in CentennialDid you know? The Society is partnered with Arlington National Cemetery and proposed to the public flower ceremony to them back in 2018? See the latest update for more information...
June 3, 2021 TUS100 Update
Posted June 3, 2021All, thank you again for your support to the Society as we work with the government on the national commemoration for the Centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier this year. Attached is the...
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...
List of 2021 TUS100 Events
Posted May 15, 2021 in CentennialThe following events are being planned by the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (SHGTUS) in connection with various non-governmental, governmental, and non-profit organizations...
May 2, 2021 – TUS100 Update
Posted May 2, 2021Latest update from the Centennial Committee can be found HERE...
Tidbit #28 Released - Special Drummers of The United States Army Band, Part 2
Posted April 27, 2021Part 2 of our talk with Special Drummers of The United States Army Band "Perishing's Own" and their preparations on their first mission at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. View the tidbit HERE...
Centennial Tidbit #27 Released
Posted April 21, 2021In episode #27 we talk with artist Matt Tavares about his work on the children's book "Twenty-One Steps". You can view the tidbit HERE...
April 16, 2021 - Centennial Tidbit #26 Released
Posted April 16, 2021 in CentennialSince our last update we have released new tidbit spotlighting on the answer to the question “What does the Tomb of the Unknow Soldier mean to you?” and “What does the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier...
TUS100 Update – April 14, 2021
Posted April 14, 2021 in CentennialCheck out the latest UPDATE on TUS100 as well as the release of Centennial Tidbit #25 - Special Drummers of The United States Army Band, Part 1...
March 23, 2021 – TUS100 Update
Posted March 23, 2021 in CentennialDid you know? On March 24, 1926 the Secretary of War issued orders to the Commanding General of the Military District of Washington to the "Establishment of an Armed Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown...
March 22, 2021 – Save the Date: Never Forget Garden Dedication
Posted March 22, 2021The Oregon State Society Daughters of the American Revolution have announced that they will be dedicating a Never Forget Garden at Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinic in White City,...
Centennial Tidbit Spotlight - "Why is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier important?"
Posted March 22, 2021 in Special ReportThe Centennial Committee recently asked a question about "Why is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier important?" Not only to the individual, but to what it means to our nation. In this video we share...
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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.
