On Veteran's Day

This column by Tom Purcell appeared in our local op/ed section today, and I find that it sums up exactly why we commemorate Veteran's Day.

Even in Hurricane, Sentinels Lovingly Guard Tomb of the Unknowns

Hurricane Isabel struck Wash­ington, D.C., hard that night. It was Sept. 18, 2003. I lived in Alex­andria, Va., at the time. I rode out the storm read­ing a book and enjoying a glass of wine.

At Arlington National Ceme­tery, a few miles away, the sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknowns were having an entirely differ­ent experience.

The Tomb of the Unknowns was established in 1921. Three of its chambers contain the remains of unknown soldiers from World War I, World War II and Korea. (A fourth had held the remains of an unknown soldier from the Vi­etnam War until DNA technology determined his identity.)

Only the finest soldiers are se­lected to guard the tomb. The sentinels are specially trained soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (“The Old Guard”). They watch over the tomb 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As each solitary guard paces be­fore the tomb, his movements are precise, his dress impeccable.

Each guard’s dedication is made clear by the Sentinel’s Creed:
My dedication to this sacred duty is total and wholehearted.
In the responsibility bestowed on me, never will I falter.
And with dignity and persever­ance, my standard will remain perfection.
Through the years of diligence and praise and the discomfort of the elements, I will walk my tour in humble reverence to the best of my abil­ity.
It is he who commands the re­spect I protect.
His bravery that made us so proud.
Surrounded by well-meaning crowds by day, alone in the thoughtful peace of night, this soldier will in honored glory rest under my eternal vigilance.

By guarding the tomb with eternal vigilance, the sentinel validates the words of the sol­dier’s prayer: “It is the soldier who has given us our freedoms. It’s the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It’s the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It’s the soldier, not the campus or­ganizer, who has given us the freedom to object. It’s the sol­dier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.”

Which brings us back to Hurri­cane Isabel. For the first time in the tomb’s history, in prepara­tion of a potentially dangerous storm, the commanding officers established a contingency plan.

The sentinels were free to withdraw to safer positions un­der the Memorial Amphitheater arches or inside the trophy room should conditions become life­threatening — positions from which they still could maintain their mission watching over the tomb. None would leave.

But as Hurricane Isabel struck — 24 trees would be up­rooted across the cemetery and three headstones would be crushed — each sentinel took turns standing his ground.

There really was no other op­tion. How could a sentinel retreat to safer ground in the midst of a dinky hurricane when so many others gave so much more?

We’ve just come through a wrenching political season. Some folks are jubilant at the re­sults, whereas others are de­flated and even worried. But de­spite the disagreement over policies and politics, I’m confi­dent that America will do the right thing over the long haul.

Honor, sacrifice and duty are still alive and well. If you don’t believe me, pay a visit to Arling­ton National Cemetery and stop by the Tomb of the Unknowns. It is one place where American sacrifice, duty and honor are on full display 24 hours a day, every day of the week.

■ Contact the writer: http://www.TomPurcell.com