What is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and why does it command such reverence? Nestled in Arlington National Cemetery, this solemn monument honors those who fought and died without recognition.
In exploring its history and significance, we pay respect to the valor of the anonymous soldiers it commemorates and the closure it provides a nation grateful for their sacrifice.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier symbolizes the sacrifice of all unidentified U.S. service members. Consequently, its meaning has evolved from honoring a single soldier to representing the countless military members who have served regardless of their known or unknown identity.
The Tomb has undergone physical and symbolic expansions to include unknown soldiers from subsequent wars, such as World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, reflecting the nation’s ongoing commitment to honor its fallen heroes.
Tomb Guards from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (the Old Guard) since 1937 maintain a strict vigil in all weather conditions through an intricate ceremony that includes a meticulous routine and the symbolic number 21.
Serving as a profound testament to the courage and sacrifice of countless unidentified U.S. service members, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier commemorates those who have given their lives for the nation. Originally created to honor one unknown service member from World War I, the Tomb has evolved to embody the memory of all military members throughout U.S. history, reflecting the ever-changing narrative of heroism and recognition.
The Tomb resonates with the intrinsic elements of sacrifice, suffering, and grief echoed through warfare, providing Americans a sacred space to honor those who have made the supreme sacrifice. Thus, the tomb’s sarcophagus bears the inscription “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God”, paying tribute to the unidentified American soldier. This encapsulates the profound respect and tribute paid to the unknown soldiers, signifying the nation’s collective acknowledgment and reverence for the unknown american warrior.
The initial concept of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was to honor a single unidentified service member. However, over time, its meaning has evolved. The Tomb now represents all military members who have served and sacrificed for the nation, not just a single individual, regardless of whether we know their identity or not.
As a central place for mourning and reflection, the Tomb embodies the sacrifices of unknown soldiers throughout U.S. history. The countless soldiers, whose identities we still don't know, have their sacrifices forever imprinted in the nation's heart, and the Tomb serves as a poignant reminder of this.
International commemorations served as the inspiration for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the United States. In 1920, people held ceremonies in London’s Westminster Abbey and at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. These international tombs emerged as symbols to collectively honor and mourn the unknown casualties of World War I, recognizing the vast number of unidentified dead.
Influenced by these British and French examples, the United States established its own memorial to the unknown dead. Following the creation of the American Tomb, other countries such as Portugal, Italy, and Belgium established their own memorials to the unknown dead, further emphasizing the global resonance of this symbol.
The original Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was a simple marble slab, later replaced with the neoclassical white marble sarcophagus that stands today. It has since evolved and expanded to encompass unidentified remains from each war, interred on the Memorial Plaza at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The expansion of the Tomb was both physical and symbolic, reflecting the nation’s commitment to honor every unidentified soldier from all conflicts. Furthermore, the Tomb has thus grown from a single grave to a monument that stands for all unknown soldiers, reflecting the nation’s evolving narrative of heroism and recognition.
On Memorial Day, 1921, people exhumed four unknown service members from a U.S. cemetery in France. They chose one for burial at Arlington National Cemetery, America’s heroes' final resting place. A highly decorated World War I veteran selected the first Unknown Soldier by placing a spray of white roses on one of the caskets.
The chosen Unknown Soldier from World War I was interred at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11, 1921. This ceremony marked the beginning of a tradition of honoring the unknown soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation.
As the world witnessed the horrors of America’s unidentified World War, World War II, and the Korean War, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier expanded to honor the unidentified soldiers of these conflicts. Officials from different theaters of the wars selected candidates for the World War II and Korean War unknowns to adequately represent all unidentified American dead.
The World War II and Korean War unknowns were interred in the plaza at Arlington National Cemetery beside the World War I Unknown Soldier, a site that has also honored those who fought in the Civil War. The casket of the remaining World War II unknown received a solemn burial at sea following the selection process, signifying the nation’s reverence for every unknown soldier.
With the Vietnam War came another expansion of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A Vietnam War Unknown lay designated and interred, following a call from President Richard M. Nixon in 1971 for a representative unknown from this conflict to rest alongside the Unknowns from the two World Wars and Korea.
However, the identification of these remains as those of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie in 1998 challenged the selection of the Vietnam Unknown. Following the identification, the crypt of the Vietnam Unknown was left vacant, serving as a memorial honoring all U.S. service members recorded as missing in the Vietnam War. With advances in recovery methods, science, and technology, future additions of unidentified service members to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are considered unlikely.
Since 1926, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been guarded by the Tomb Guards, an elite group from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment. Guarding the Tomb is a continuous duty, carried out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of weather conditions, since July 2, 1937.
Becoming a Tomb Guard is no easy feat. Candidates must memorize 35 pages of Arlington Cemetery information, pass detailed tests and uniform checks, and serve honorably for nine months. Equipped with a rifle, bayonet, and sidearm, Tomb Guards adhere to a rotation schedule, maintaining a constant vigilance over the Tomb.
Known popularly as The Old Guard, the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army and has served the United States since 1784. Designated as the Army’s official ceremonial unit in 1948, it has since taken on the solemn duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Beyond their vigil at the tomb, The Old Guard serves as the Army’s official ceremonial unit and escort to the president, playing a key role in state affairs and security for Washington, D.C. They stand as a testament to the enduring honor and dedication of the military personnel who serve as military guard for the final resting place of their unidentified brethren.
The process of becoming a Sentinel, a Guard of the Tomb, is both demanding and rigorous. It requires candidates to:
Undergo an interview
Complete a two-week trial
Memorize seven pages of Arlington National Cemetery history
Maintain rigorous training and daily inspections
Demonstrate knowledge of nearly 300 veterans’ grave locations and the guard-change ceremony.
Only those who pass a comprehensive badge test with over 95% correct answers and serve for nine months with a Commanding Officer’s recommendation earn the honor of wearing the silver Tomb Guard Identification Badge. This badge signifies a Sentinel’s dedication and can remain a permanent accolade unless a Sentinel brings dishonor unto the Tomb – a standard maintained even after the landmark achievement of the first female Tomb Guard, Sgt. Heather Lynn Johnsen.
Following a meticulous routine, the Tomb Guards incorporate the number 21 as a conspicuous element in their duty to symbolize the highest military honor, the 21-gun salute. The Changing of the Guard, a meticulous ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, is an integral part of this routine. It occurs every half hour in summer and hourly in winter and involves:
A relief commander
A new guard
Weapon inspection
Precise marching
During their shift, Tomb Guards march 21 steps and observe 21-second pauses to honor the Unknowns. When off-duty, they spend their time in quarters beneath the Memorial Amphitheater, studying history, and maintaining their weapons.
Dressed in the Army dress blue uniform, reminiscent of 19th-century styles, and donning sunglasses to reduce glare from the surrounding marble, they carry out their duty with unwavering dedication and respect.
The experience of visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is profoundly moving. The site is accessible via public transportation, including the Arlington Cemetery station on the Metrorail Blue Line, which is wheelchair accessible. Designated parking for visitors with disabilities is also available. Visitors with disabilities can use their own wheelchairs or strollers, or they may rent wheelchairs from businesses in the D.C. area.
Upon arrival, visitors should be prepared for a 100% ID check as part of the cemetery’s security procedures. The cemetery asks that visitors maintain the dignity of the site by speaking quietly, using headphones for multimedia, and following rules such as no running, climbing, bicycling, or picnicking. Complimentary services for visitors with disabilities include no-cost interpretive tour bus rides and free gravesite shuttle service.
For visitors requiring sign language interpretation of tours or assisted listening devices, a request should be made at least four weeks in advance.
Visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is best during the mild weather of spring and fall. These seasons offer comfortable conditions for exploring the grounds and paying respects to the Unknowns. Summer months can be very hot and humid, while winters can be extremely cold, making spring and fall more comfortable for visitors.
Special ceremonies on Memorial Day and Veterans Day also offer unique opportunities to experience the site’s solemn honor and national significance. These events draw large crowds and provide a unique perspective of the Tomb’s importance.
It’s relatively straightforward to reach the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The cemetery can be reached by crossing the Arlington Memorial Bridge from Washington, D.C. For those preferring public transportation, the Arlington Cemetery stop on the Metrorail Blue Line is the most convenient access point.
Whether you choose to drive or take public transportation, your journey to the Tomb will be part of an unforgettable experience. As you approach the serene environs of Arlington National Cemetery, you will likely feel a sense of anticipation and reverence that underscores the solemnity and importance of the Tomb.
Once you arrive at the site, you have several options for exploring the grounds of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Authorized guided tours are provided by Arlington National Cemetery Tours, Inc., featuring a live-narrated tram that operates daily with hop on/hop off flexibility. Tram tours depart every 20 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., making standard stops at key sites including the JFK gravesite and Memorial Amphitheater.
For a more personalized experience, the ANC Explorer mobile app enhances the visiting experience, allowing users to locate gravesites and explore points of interest within Arlington National Cemetery. Group tours for 20 or more individuals can be arranged by directly contacting Arlington National Cemetery Tours, Inc.
Apart from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery hosts numerous notable burial sites and memorials. It is the final resting place of:
President John F. Kennedy
Jacqueline Kennedy
Robert E. Lee
Thurgood Marshall
Joe Louis
Audie Murphy
Charles L’Enfant
Tuskegee airmen
Space Shuttle Challenger astronauts
Among the numerous points of interest is the Challenger Memorial, dedicated to the astronauts who perished in the 1986 explosion. Visitors can also partake in special tours, such as the ‘African American History at Arlington National Cemetery’, which highlights the contributions of distinguished Black service members and civil rights pioneers.
Throughout the year, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the site for several special events and ceremonies. The President of the United States typically delivers an address at the Memorial Day ceremony held in the amphitheater, and lays a wreath at the Tomb to formally observe both Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Foreign dignitaries often pay respects to the Unknown Soldier by participating in wreath-laying ceremonies during state visits, exemplifying international homage to the tomb’s symbolism. Numerous military and government organizations hold annual memorial services at Arlington National Cemetery, which include formal ceremonies with the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stands as a powerful symbol of sacrifice, bravery, and honor, representing every unidentified service member who has laid down their lives for the nation. Its guardians, the Tomb Guards, serve with unwavering dedication, maintaining a 24/7 vigil over the Tomb. Visiting this hallowed monument, whether during the quiet calm of a regular day or the solemnity of a special ceremony, offers a poignant reminder of the cost of freedom and the heroism of those who defend it.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier holds the remains of three unidentified American service members, representing those lost in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. It is a solemn tribute to the sacrifices of military personnel throughout American history.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a symbolic grave for unidentified war dead, starting with one from World War I and now holding the remains of three unidentified service members.
First Lt. Michael J. Blassie was removed from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, following DNA testing that identified him as the Vietnam unknown. His remains were then taken off from the tomb at the request of the family.
A guard shift at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lasts for an hour, and it is reduced to half an hour in the summer.
The Tomb Guards are an elite group from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as 'The Old Guard,' and have been assigned to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier since 1926.
