A hapless tourist steps beyond barriers and gets close to the tomb, and one of the guards (known as sentinels) teaches her a lesson.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is an iconic memorial located at Arlington National Cemetery, which has a code of conduct for visitors that emphasizes showing respect. The Tomb contains the remains of fallen American soldiers whose identities are unknown, and it is guarded round the clock by soldiers (sentinels) from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as The Old Guard.
In April of 1948, the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment took on the unique responsibility of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Being a Tomb Sentinel isn’t as simple as walking back and forth while keeping a close eye out; it’s an extremely high honor that requires immense professionalism and commitment.
More details of this incident from Opposing Views:
The Arlington National Cemetery has over 4 million visitors annually, and this historic site has employed a number of rules and regulations to ensure that the hallowed grounds are respected.
One visitor was in for the shock of her life when she failed to adhere to the set rules.
During a wreath-placing ceremony, two children are given the honor of laying the elegant decoration at the center of the tomb, and soldiers salute as the wreath is laid. These ceremonies are witnessed by the gathered crowd.
After the wreath has been placed, the Sentinels make their way to their assigned spots while Taps is played. Once the hymn ends, the participants march away.
During one ceremony, a woman in white crossed the barrier set and walked towards the tomb. However, she was spotted by a guard who immediately addressed her.
He sternly instructed: “It is requested, that all visitors stay behind the chain rails at all times!”
The woman quickly obeyed the command and went back behind the barrier to join the crowd, trying to play it off. Once she was back in the accepted area, the ceremony continued.
The incident shown in the video below isn’t out of the ordinary. The sentinels are known for responding sharply to visitors who step out of line — so much so that there is a compilation of visitor “fails” on YouTube showing several visitors getting shouted at, along with the occasional disciplined brandishing of an M14 rifle.
