Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - Arlington, VA
Posted by: 
Rayman
N 38° 52.583 W 077° 04.338
18S E 320235 N 4305099
The Tomb of the Unknowns is probably the best known memorial to those killed during service to their country.
Waymark Code: WM7G1Q
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 10/21/2009
Views: 55
From
Virginia: A Guide to the Old Dominion as part of Tour 12 (U.S. Route 50):
The TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, dedicated in 1931 as a memorial to the unidentified dead in the World War and designed by Thomas Jones and Lorimer Rich, is on a terrace near the amphitheatre.
The Tomb of the Unknowns, as it is more commonly known now, is perhaps the best known memorial to those killed in service to their country. A sentinel of the Third U.S. Infantry maintains vigil 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The sentinel paces 21 steps along the tomb, pauses for 21 seconds, then returns. A changing of the guard takes place every half hour in the summer and every hour in the winter. This ceremony is very moving and emotional.
Joining the unknown soldier from World War I, unknown servicemen from World War II and the Korean War were interred on May 30, 1958. An unknown from Vietnam was interred on May 28, 1984, but was later removed from the Tomb in 1998 for possible identification through DNA testing. This fighter pilot was identified as Lieutenant Michael Blassie and his remains were returned to his family in Missouri where he was
re-interred in
Jefferson Barrack National Cemetery in St. Louis.