Tomb Of The Unknown
TAPS

This is very interesting.
   This must take a special kind of person.

   1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the
 
      Tomb of the Unknowns and Why?

21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one-gun salute, which is the
highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.

2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his
return walk and why?
 
21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1.

3. Why are his gloves wet?

His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.

4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time, and if
not,
why not?
 
He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After his

march across the path, he executes an about face, and moves the rifle
to
the outside shoulder.

5. How often are the guards changed?
 
Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365
days a
year.

6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?
 
For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be
 
between 5' 10" and 6' 2" tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30."
 
Other requirements of the Guard:
 
They must commit Two years of life to guard the tomb, live in a
barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty
for
the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public for the rest of
their
lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb in any
way.

After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their
lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400
presently worn.
 
The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give
up the wreath pin.
 
The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat
and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to
the
top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt.

There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform.

>Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror.
 
The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch
TV.
 
All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to
rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must memorize who they are
and
where they are interred.  Among the notables are: President Taft,

 Joe E. Lewis {the boxer}

and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, {the most
decorated soldier of WWII} of Hollywood fame.

Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for
guard duty.
>
ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD,
AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.