Standing Guard Over The Tomb Of The Unknowns During Hurricane Irene
A lone Tomb Sentinel, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, during his walk of reverence the day Hurricane Irene struck Arlington National Cemetery, Aug. 27, 2011.
Among the stirring images from Hurricane Irene is one of a lone tomb sentinel standing guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns as the storm swirls about him. That picture and others in the series have been spreading on Facebook and the web since Monday.
The Tomb of the Unknowns is a monument dedicated to American service members who have died without their remains being identified. On Memorial Day, it is tradition for the acting U.S. president to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, located in Arlington, Va.
Considered one of the highest honors to serve as a ceremonial guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, the tomb has been guarded continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, since July 2, 1937. Even in severe weather conditions, the guards do not leave their posts.
This is a look at the Tomb of the Unknowns and The Old Guard.
Without federal support, local stations, especially in rural and underserved areas, face deep cuts or even closure. Vital public service alerts, news, storytelling, and programming like The World will be impacted. The World has weathered many storms, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to being your trusted source for human-centered international news, shared with integrity and care. We believe public media is about truth and access for all. As an independent, nonprofit newsroom, we aren’t controlled by billionaire owners or corporations. We are sustained by listeners like you.
Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World.