It takes three hours to shine a pair of shoes. Brass buckles are polished five times per day. Cadence, cadence and cadence...If a soldiers eyes move in the wrong direction he is pulled "off the line"....Move the rifle bolt too fast or too slow and the soldier is pulled off the line..
the Honor Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery is an elite group of 25 men who feel that they have the best and most prestigious duty in the U.S.Infantry...they guard the remains of unknown soldiers from WWI , WWII, Korean War, and an empty tomb from the Vietnam War... Because of modern day forensics and DNA science there will never again be another "unknown soldier"......
What is known is the dedication of these men who walk back and forth, back and forth , eyes straight ahead in one hour shifts 24 hours a day , rain or shine, hurricane or blizzard, sweltering heat or icy wind........24/7 and hardly any time off....these guys represent dedication........i spent two days with these men recently, "behind the scenes".....the only thing we really had in common were shaved heads...my shoes and shirt were clean , but , well, not much precision going on in my case.....most of these guys had served in Iraq and all were ready to go back.....but they looked at this special duty as the greatest service to their country and few can pass muster .....we chatted aimiably, but we did not talk politics...
before their walk the men prepare....sun glasses polished....long long looks in the full length mirror....expressions taught..rifles ready ..they critique each other harshly....and when they ultimately resign from the military, if they are ever caught in any violation of "the code of honor", which would include any drug violation for example, their names would be removed from the Roll of Honor forever and disgrace would follow them for the rest of their lives....
