The reporter who wrote this dosen't know the difference between Marines and Army, Unless I'm mistaken. But I thought everybody would like to see this also.<br />..................................................<br /><br />> > The Third Infantry Regiment at Fort Myer has the responsibility for<br />> > providing ceremonial units and honor guards for state occasions, White<br />> > House social functions, public celebrations and interments at Arlington<br />> > National Cemetery....and standing a very formal sentry watch at the<br />> > Tombs of the Unknowns. The public is familiar with the precision of what<br />> > is called. "walking post" at the Tombs. There are roped off galleries<br />> > where visitors can form to observe the troopers and their measured step<br />> > and almost mechanical silent rifle shoulder changes. They are relieved<br />> > every hour in a very formal drill that has to be seen to believe. Some<br />> > people think that when the Cemetery is closed to the public in the<br />> > evening in the evening that this show stops. First, to the men who who<br />> > are dedicated to this work...it is no show...it is a "charge of<br />> > honor".The formality and precision continues uninterrupted all night.<br />> > During the nighttime, the drill of relief and the measured step of the<br />> > on duty sentry remain unchanged from the daylight hours. To these<br />> > men...these special men, the continuity of this post is the key to the<br />> > honor and respect shown to these honored dead, symbolic of all American<br />> > unaccounted for American combat dead. The steady rhythmic step in rain,<br />> > sleet, snow, hail, hot, cold...bitter<br />> > cold...uninterrupted...uninterrupted is the important part of the honor<br />> > shown.<br />> ><br />> ><br />> ><br />> > Last night, while you were sleeping, the teeth of Hurricane Isabel came<br />> > through this area and tore hell out of everything... We have thousands<br />> > of trees down...power outages...traffic signals out...roads filled with<br />> > down limbs and "gear adrift" debris...We have flooding...and the place<br />> > looks like it has been the impact area of an off shore bombardment. The<br />> > Regimental Commander of the U.S. Third Infantry sent word to the<br />> > nighttime Sentry Detail to secure the post and seek shelter from the<br />> > high winds, to ensure their personal safety.<br />> ><br />> ><br />> ><br />> > THEY DISOBEYED THE ORDER...During winds that turned over vehicles and<br />> > turned debris into projectiles...the measured step continued. One fellow<br />> > said "I've got buddies getting shot at in Iraq who would kick my butt if<br />> > word got to them that we let them down...I'm sure as hell have no<br />> > intention of spending my Army career being known as the goddam idiot who<br />> > couldn't stand a little light breeze and shirked his duty." ....Then he<br />> > said something in response to a female reporters question regarding<br />> > silly purposeless personal risk...."I wouldn't expect you to understand.<br />> > it's an enlisted man's thing."<br />> ><br />> ><br />> ><br />> > God Bless the rascal...In a time in our nation's history when spin and<br />> > total bull**** seems to have become the accepted coin-of-the-realm,<br />> > there beat hearts...the enlisted hearts we all knew and were so **** <br />> > proud to be a part of...that fully understand that devotion to duty is<br />> > not a part time occupation. While we slept, we were represented by some<br />> > **** fine men who fully understood their post orders and proudly went<br />> > about their assigned responsibilities unseen, unrecognized and in the<br />> > finest tradition of the American Enlisted Man. Folks, there's<br />> > hope....The gene that George S. Patton...Arliegh Burke and Jimmy<br />> > Doolittle left us...survives. Now, go have another cup to pop rivet your<br />> > eyelids I've got to go to work.<br />> ><br />> ><br />> ><br />> > From a subvet friend in our nation's capital~<br />> ><br />> ><br />> ><br />> > ...More....Nina Swink adds.....<br />> ><br />> ><br />> > On the ABC evening news, it was reported tonight that, because of the<br />> > dangers from Hurricane Isabel approaching Washington DC, the military<br />> > members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unkown Soldier<br />> > were given permission to suspend the assignment. They refused. "No way,<br />> > Sir!" Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical<br />> > storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it<br />> > was the highest honor that can be afforded to a service person. The<br />> > tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.<br />> ><br />> > Addition to this e: I saw an interview on Fox News Channel with the<br />> > Commander of the soldiers who guard the Tomb of the unknown. He took the<br />> > shift when Isabel was unleashing her fury, cause he did not want to ask<br />> > any of his men to do this - he felt it was his highest honor to be on<br />> > duty during that time.<br />> ><br />> > Very, very proud of our persons in uniform!!!!!!
