Learning From True Heroes

At Acton Academy, we teach the Hero’s Journey and believe every child is a genius with the potential to change the world. There is no better way for our learners to learn this lesson than to experience greatness.

On our recent trip to Washington DC we visited Arlington Cemetary and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  The Sentinels which guard this tomb are ELITE soldiers that embody the highest levels of honor, respect, commitment, and excellence.

Here are some interesting facts about Arlington Cemetary and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier we learned on our trip.

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

• 400,000 men and women have been laid to rest on these beautiful 624 acres.
• On Memorial Day a small flag will be placed at each tombstone, monument, and columbarium row. This honorable task is completed by the Old Guard in just 4 hours.
• Two presidents are buried here: JFK and William Taft
• There are very strict rules of who is eligible to be buried here, but in short you must have been active military, retired reservists, recipients of military’s highest honors, or a former POW.
• 1 spouse or dependent is eligible to be buried at the same gravesite. The serving hero is named on one side of the tombstone and the spouse/dependent named on the other.
• We had the honor of seeing the gravesite of the great grandfather of one of our learners.

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER:

• In 1921 the tomb became the final resting place of one unidentified WWI hero.
• Later the tomb also became the resting place of three unidentified heroes from later wars: WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
• The soldier from the Vietnam War was was later identified using more advanced DNA testing and returned to the family. Therefore today the tomb is the resting place of three unidentified soldiers.
• The Tomb has been guarded since July 1, 1937 and is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year without exception.
• On April 6, 1948 it became the official duty the 3rd Infantry of the Army known as the ‘Old Guard’. Tomb Guards or “Sentinels” are highly trained with extreme perfection and only about a 10% pass rate. Uniforms for example must be precise in placement of tags to 1/64 of a inch – you need a 97% to pass (and nobody has ever received 100%) think about that…tiny details matter. One major falter on anything can mean you are out for good. This is all in the name of honor. It means something to these men and women who serve here; it is not petty details it is honor! This is a volunteer position and one of the highest honors in the military to receive your Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Identification Badge. It is also unique in that it can be revoked at any time in their lifetime by showing disgrace to themselves or the Tomb.
• Tomb Guards do not display their rank while guarding the Tomb as to not outrank the unknown soldiers they are watching over.
• Changing of the Guard is a precise ceremony where respect is not only expected but can and will be enforced by the guards. Visitors must remain silent and standing for the entirety of the ceremony.
• The importance of 21…Tomb Guards March exactly 21 steps, turn and pause for exactly 21 seconds to signify the highest honor that can be bestowed, the 21-gun salute.
• The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is sacred ground and “exemplifies valor and honor by remembering those who died committing brave and selfless acts with no one to bear witness to them.”