Questions about email "Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier"

[VenezianBlau 87]

Do any of you guys know if these statements are true, especially the limitations noted near the bottom. I'm leary of unsourced emails.

Cheers,
Bob

GUARDING THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER

Q. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb the Unknowns and why?

A. 21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.
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Q. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his return walk and why?

A. 21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1.
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Q. Why are his gloves wet?

A. His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.
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Q. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time, and if not, why not?

A. 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.
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Q. How often are the guards changed?

A. Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year
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Q. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?

A. 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".

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Q. How about other requirements of the Guard?

A. They must commit 2 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.

Wait ---- there is more response to this question:

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.

Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniform ready for guard duty.

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.

[Rot 911]

As usual with these types of e-mails some fact mixed with a lot of fiction. Forget all the crap about the drinking, no tv, no swearing. Yes there are age, height, weight limitations. For more info go here: http://www.tombguard.org/general.html

[KevinP73]

The first 5 questions , I believe are correct. I'm with you as far as my doubts to the validity of the others. One question I've always had is what is the significance of "21"? It seems to be a prominant number in military tradition.

[VenezianBlau 87]

Kurt: Interesting page. Although, I don't understand the section under Platoon Leaders:

"They also had the sad, and most emotional, duty of revoking the Tomb Guard Badge and removal of the soldier from the post."

Some kind of adverse action or end of duty period?

Kevin: Some of those limitations didn't seem reasonable to expect.

Ah yes, the internet.

Thanks guys,
Bob (now googling 21 gun salute origin)

[VenezianBlau 87]

Edit:
Source: http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/faq/salute.htm

Quote

"Originally warships fired seven-gun salutes--the number seven probably selected because of its astrological and Biblical significance. Seven planets had been identified and the phases of the moon changed every seven days. The Bible states that God rested on the seventh day after Creation, that every seventh year was sabbatical and that the seven times seventh year ushered in the Jubilee year.

Land batteries, having a greater supply of gunpowder, were able to fire three guns for every shot fired afloat, hence the salute by shore batteries was 21 guns. The multiple of three probably was chosen because of the mystical significance of the number three in many ancient civilizations."

Bob

[djmcmath]

Blau, looks like you beat me to it. Here's another link. Looks like most traditions -- a lot of hocus-pocus that nobody can really put their finger on...

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/blgunsalute.htm

[CamB]

Nothing on snopes.com, except this (which is pretty cool ):

http://www.snopes.com/military/isabel.htm