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This tomb, made of Colorado marble, was designed by architect Lorimer Rich after a design competition. The three Unknown Soldiers inside the tomb are guarded twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week by a chosen few soldiers, the Tomb Guard Sentinels from the 3rd United States Infantry.
Most people visit the Tomb of the Unknowns to witness the solemn 10-minute changing of the guard, which occurs every hour from October 1 through March 31 and every half-hour from April 1 to September 30. Honors bestowed upon the Unknown Soldiers, including the Medal of Honor awarded to each, are displayed in a small gallery inside the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater.
The first unknown soldier was laid to rest here, in front of the amphitheater, on November 11, 1921. The second and third unknown soldiers, from World War II and the Korean War, were both laid to rest in 1958. An unknown soldier from Vietnam was laid to rest in 1984, but by 1998 advances in DNA technology made it possible to identify the unknown soldier from Vietnam as Michael Joseph Blassie. Once identified, his remains were removed and returned to his family. The crypt that once held the unknown soldier from Vietnam remains empty.
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