Every day, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, is guarded by soldiers from “The Old Guard,” or the 3rd Infantry Regiment, who take their post very seriously.
The tour has been guarded seven days a week, 24 hours a day, since July 2, 1937, Staff Sgt. Shane Vincent of the Tomb of the Unknown Solider Sentinel told The Daily Caller.
The guards endure rain, snow, sleet, thunderstorms and hurricanes to protect the monument, Vincent said.
“We’ve done it all,” he said.
On Memorial Day, President Donald Trump was seen participating in the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the symbolic tomb.
Vincent said the “ultimate sacrifice” is giving up your life and identity, which is what the soldiers who the tomb honors have done.
“Many people think that the ultimate sacrifice is giving up your life, but these soldiers gave up not only their lives but their identities,” Vincent said.
Specialist Antonio Garcia said he and his fellow guards put a meticulous amount of dedication into their work to honor the unknown soldiers.
“It takes a lot of dedication,” he said. “We’re out there, because, you know, they deserve every bit of perfection that we give them when we step beyond the chains and onto that plaza.”
Vincent said it’s apparent how special the ceremony is when they see veterans from wars past attend.
“When you see a World War II veteran struggling to get out of his wheelchair so that he can stand during taps and salute during taps, that really hits home and lets you know exactly what this place really is about,” he said.
Garcia continued, “because it is for those families, it is for those unknown soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice.”
Vincent and Garcia also recited the Sentinel’s Creed:
My dedication to this sacred duty
is total and whole-hearted.
In the responsibility bestowed on me
never will I falter.
And with dignity and perseverance
my standard will remain perfection.
Through the years of diligence and praise
and the discomfort of the elements,
I will walk my tour in humble reverence
to the best of my ability.
It is he who commands the respect I protect,
his bravery that made us so proud.
Surrounded by well meaning crowds by day,
alone in the thoughtful peace of night,
this soldier will in honored glory rest
under my eternal vigilance.
(H/T: The Daily Caller)