Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
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Name	Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Location	Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, United States
Designer	Thomas Hastings & Lorado Taft
Material	Yule marble
Dedicated	1921

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a historic monument dedicated to deceased U.S. service members whose remains have not been identified. Located within the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery, it serves as a powerful symbol of national sacrifice and collective mourning. The site is perpetually guarded by the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as "The Old Guard." It has become a focal point for remembrance ceremonies, most notably on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

History and Origins

The concept for a tomb honoring an unidentified soldier emerged in the aftermath of World War I, a conflict that produced unprecedented numbers of unknown dead. The idea was championed by Congress and formally approved in 1921. The selection of the first World War I unknown involved a meticulous process conducted by U.S. Army personnel. The chosen remains were transported aboard the USS *Olympia* from France to the United States Capitol, where they lay in state. The interment ceremony on Armistice Day, November 11, 1921, was presided over by President Warren G. Harding and attended by many dignitaries, including General of the Armies John J. Pershing. Later, unknowns from World War II and the Korean War were added in 1958, and an unknown from the Vietnam War was interred in 1984.

Design and Architecture

The current monument, completed in 1932, replaced a simpler marble slab. It was designed by architect Thomas Hastings of the firm Carrère and Hastings, with sculptural elements by Lorado Taft. The massive sarcophagus is crafted from a single block of gleaming white Yule marble quarried in Colorado. Its neoclassical design features three Greek figures on the east side representing Peace, Victory, and Valor, while the west side is inscribed with the poignant epitaph: "HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD." The tomb plaza also includes three marble slabs flush with the plaza marking the crypts of the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War unknowns.

Selection and Interment Ceremonies

The process for selecting an unknown soldier is conducted with utmost solemnity and precision. For the World War II and Korean War unknowns, selection ceremonies were held aboard the USS *Canberra* and the USS *Blandy*, respectively. In each ritual, a serviceman, typically a Medal of Honor recipient, was chosen to place a wreath on one of several identical caskets, thereby designating the one to be interred. The ceremony for the Vietnam Unknown in 1984 was held at the Pearl Harbor–Hickam complex in Hawaii. These remains were later disinterred in 1998 after identification through DNA analysis revealed them to be those of First Lieutenant Michael J. Blassie; that crypt now lies empty.

Guarding and Traditions

The tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by specially trained sentinels from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment. The ritual of the changing of the guard is a meticulously choreographed ceremony that draws thousands of spectators. Sentinels adhere to a strict code of conduct, embodying the virtues of perfection, discipline, and respect. Their routine includes the iconic 21-step walk, a 21-second halt, and a 21-step return, symbolizing the 21-gun salute, the highest military honor. The guard is changed every half-hour or hour depending on the season. This unbroken vigil has been maintained even during extreme weather events like Hurricane Isabel and the September 11 attacks.

Significance and Symbolism

The monument holds profound significance as a sacred site of national unity and memory. It represents the collective sacrifice of all American service members who died without recognition, providing a focal point for a nation's grief and gratitude. The anonymity of the interred soldiers allows every family who lost a loved one to imagine it is their son, father, or brother who rests there. It is a cornerstone of American military tradition and a central location for presidential wreath-laying ceremonies. The site reinforces ideals of duty, honor, and country, serving as a permanent reminder of the costs of war and the price of freedom.

Other National Tombs

The American monument is part of a global tradition of honoring unknown warriors that began after World War I. The United Kingdom interred its Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey in 1920, a ceremony that inspired many other nations. France entombed its *Soldat Inconnu* beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Other notable examples include the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, the Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow near the Kremlin Wall. Similar memorials exist in Italy, Australia, India, and numerous other countries, each serving as a national symbol of sacrifice.

Category:Monuments and memorials in Virginia Category:Arlington National Cemetery Category:United States military memorials and cemeteries Category:World War I memorials in the United States