The Old Guard
It is considered one of the highest honors to serve as a Sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Fewer than 20 percent of all volunteers are accepted for training and of those only a fraction pass training to become full-fledged Tomb Guards. This attrition rate has made the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Identification Badge the second least-awarded decoration of the United States Military (the first being the Army Astronaut Badge).[19]
The soldier "walking the mat" does not wear rank insignia on his or her uniform so that they do not outrank the Unknowns, whatever their rank may have been. Non-commissioned officers (usually the Relief Commander and Assistant Relief Commanders), do wear insignia of their rank when changing the guard only. They have a separate uniform (without rank) that is worn when they actually guard the Unknowns or are "Posted".
The duties of the sentinels are not purely ceremonial. The sentinels will confront people who cross the barriers at the tomb, or are disrespectful or loud.
Now my thoughts...
I have six months left until what they call my "mandatory retirement date". It is amazing to me that I have survived thirty years serving my country. I have served under five presidents...each one, my Commander-in-Chief. I have not always agreed with what they have done or commanded the military to do, but I love my country more than I disagree with them and will die for the right of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" as well as the right to free speech and religion.
How many times have I heard someone say something that made my blood boil, I cannot count. I never started counting. It didn't matter because sometimes those people were my Commander-in-Chiefs, my superiors, my peers, my subordinates, even my family members. It is not important that I agree with everyone. We have the RIGHT to disagree. Not everyone can like each other. Not every one is always going to get along even if they DO like each other.
Oh, don't get me wrong. I am in no way advocating violence or hatred. On the contrary...I'm advocating peaceful change. But though I may not like what is said, I will fight to the death for the right for that person to say it. Isn't that one of the most amazing things - our first amendment right? Don't you wish other countries had it?
Just how did the United States get to be the police and clean-up crew of the world? Who knows? Perhaps it's when we had a chance to stand for something back in the 18th Century fighting for our right to be treated as people and not acquisitions of another country. Perhaps it's when we finally realized that we all bleed red blood and die no matter what the color of our skin. Maybe even perhaps it's when we saw the unjust treatment of others by people of their own country or not their own country that bullying isn't the answer. Whatever the reason, we were elected, chosen, destined to help.
I sure hope that the civil war the United States had in the 19th Century was the last one that will divide us with violence.
We have the right as citizens to choose whom we want to be our president. In four years two new people (maybe even three or four) will vie for our votes. We can fight with words...they say that the tongue is sharper than the knife and the pen is mightier than the sword. In over 200 years of our country's history, only 44 men have led; good and bad. Some longer than others. We can only hope that the person who we elect will have the dedication and tenacity to stand guard and be ready for whatever this country comes up against.
The reverence that the Old Guard has to those that fought and died for the rights and freedoms that we have today may be purely symbolic but it has some correlations to our country's presidency:
1) The guards don't wear rank so that they don't out-rank those they don't know that died for them - the president does NOT outrank the citizens of the United States.
2) They confront those who cross the barriers or are disrespectful or loud - the president should confront those countries that cross the boundaries of humanity and are disrespectful to mankind.
3) Though the guards are ceremonial, they don't stand of ceremony when they have to confront people - the president should not just be a figurehead or be politically-correct all the time and step off the pedestal when the time comes.
It does not matter whom I voted for or what policies I agree or disagree with. It only matters that I have the right and freedom to do so. I would rather you come at me with logic and facts to give an alternate way of thinking and allow me to process that and agree or disagree. BUT...I also ask that you allow me to do the same.
I love my country and I really hope that those of other nations really love their country and want to make it better and safer for their citizens as much as I do mine. I hope that you, as a citizen (if applicable) love this country as much as I do.
The guards will change to continue their watch. The presidency will change to continue to make this country the best. We will never agree on who it will be or who was the best or whether that policy was good or bad. As long as we can agree to disagree we'll be okay...cause that's life get over it!
...and a PhD means...that I learn more patience and tolerance for others...and myself...
Now my thoughts...
I have six months left until what they call my "mandatory retirement date". It is amazing to me that I have survived thirty years serving my country. I have served under five presidents...each one, my Commander-in-Chief. I have not always agreed with what they have done or commanded the military to do, but I love my country more than I disagree with them and will die for the right of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" as well as the right to free speech and religion.
How many times have I heard someone say something that made my blood boil, I cannot count. I never started counting. It didn't matter because sometimes those people were my Commander-in-Chiefs, my superiors, my peers, my subordinates, even my family members. It is not important that I agree with everyone. We have the RIGHT to disagree. Not everyone can like each other. Not every one is always going to get along even if they DO like each other.
Oh, don't get me wrong. I am in no way advocating violence or hatred. On the contrary...I'm advocating peaceful change. But though I may not like what is said, I will fight to the death for the right for that person to say it. Isn't that one of the most amazing things - our first amendment right? Don't you wish other countries had it?
Just how did the United States get to be the police and clean-up crew of the world? Who knows? Perhaps it's when we had a chance to stand for something back in the 18th Century fighting for our right to be treated as people and not acquisitions of another country. Perhaps it's when we finally realized that we all bleed red blood and die no matter what the color of our skin. Maybe even perhaps it's when we saw the unjust treatment of others by people of their own country or not their own country that bullying isn't the answer. Whatever the reason, we were elected, chosen, destined to help.
I sure hope that the civil war the United States had in the 19th Century was the last one that will divide us with violence.
We have the right as citizens to choose whom we want to be our president. In four years two new people (maybe even three or four) will vie for our votes. We can fight with words...they say that the tongue is sharper than the knife and the pen is mightier than the sword. In over 200 years of our country's history, only 44 men have led; good and bad. Some longer than others. We can only hope that the person who we elect will have the dedication and tenacity to stand guard and be ready for whatever this country comes up against.
The reverence that the Old Guard has to those that fought and died for the rights and freedoms that we have today may be purely symbolic but it has some correlations to our country's presidency:
1) The guards don't wear rank so that they don't out-rank those they don't know that died for them - the president does NOT outrank the citizens of the United States.
2) They confront those who cross the barriers or are disrespectful or loud - the president should confront those countries that cross the boundaries of humanity and are disrespectful to mankind.
3) Though the guards are ceremonial, they don't stand of ceremony when they have to confront people - the president should not just be a figurehead or be politically-correct all the time and step off the pedestal when the time comes.
It does not matter whom I voted for or what policies I agree or disagree with. It only matters that I have the right and freedom to do so. I would rather you come at me with logic and facts to give an alternate way of thinking and allow me to process that and agree or disagree. BUT...I also ask that you allow me to do the same.
I love my country and I really hope that those of other nations really love their country and want to make it better and safer for their citizens as much as I do mine. I hope that you, as a citizen (if applicable) love this country as much as I do.
The guards will change to continue their watch. The presidency will change to continue to make this country the best. We will never agree on who it will be or who was the best or whether that policy was good or bad. As long as we can agree to disagree we'll be okay...cause that's life get over it!
...and a PhD means...that I learn more patience and tolerance for others...and myself...
