|
?:reviewBody
|
-
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Guards Can’t Drink for Life, Must Live in Underground Barracks? Claim Guards for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their live, and cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform or the tomb in any way. Rating Not True Like this fact check? Reporting A popular September 2019 Facebook post about guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier makes a number of claims, among them that anyone serving as a Sentinel must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives and cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives: https://www.facebook.com/waltvmoore/posts/2208773855901595 That post, archived here , was shared thousands of times. The end of the post suggested that the claim was older than Facebook, including language suggesting that it began as an email forward: I don’t usually suggest that many emails be forwarded, but I’d be very proud if this one reached as many people as possible[.] Of the claims made, one section stood out — the one purportedly describing lifetime restrictions for former Sentinels: Other requirements of the Guard: Florida is where wokes go to die... Please enable JavaScript Florida is where wokes go to die They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives . They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb in any way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. It is not clear how the rumor started or how long it had been circulating, but the website for the non-profit organization the Society of The Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier featured a FAQ , in which many of the very specific claims on Facebook were previously addressed. Several of the claims made in the initial portion of the Facebook post were addressed, namely: [Q] How many steps does the Sentinel take during their ‘walk’ by the Tomb of the Unknowns and why? [A] Twenty-one steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary. [Q] Why are the Sentinel’s gloves wet? [A] Gloves are moistened to improve the grip on the rifle. Immediately thereafter, a section dealt with the more questionable claims — primarily that anyone who served as a guard lived with fairly large restrictions forever, and that they were forced to live in a barracks under the tomb: [Q] Is it true a Sentinel must commit for two years to guard the Tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives [?] [A] No, this is a false rumor. The average tour at the Tomb is about 18 months. However, there is NO set time for service there. Sentinels live either in a barracks on Ft. Myer (the Army post located adjacent to the cemetery) or off base if they like . They do have a living quarters under the steps of the amphitheater where they stay during their 24 hour shifts. If they are of legal age, they may drink except while on duty. [Q] Is it true they cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives ? [A] Again, another false rumor . Fort Myer is a base near Arlington, Virginia. But as the FAQ noted, Sentinels were free to live off-base if they like, and while the barracks do exist, they are intended to be used for 24-hour shifts. As for the photograph of a Sentinel in the snow, the page also addressed inclement weather: The Sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are completely dedicated to their duty of guarding the Tomb. In fact, line eight of our Sentinel’s Creed refers to the discomfort of the elements. Because of their dedication, the weather does not bother them. In fact, it is considered an honor to walk the mat during inclement weather. It gets cold, it gets hot and the mission continues as it has unbroken since 1937. ... YES [Sentinels remain in a blizzard or a bad thunderstorm], but the accomplishment of the mission and welfare of the Soldier is never put at risk. The Tomb Guards have contingencies that are ready to be executed if the weather conditions ever place the Soldiers at risk of injury or death (i.e. lightning, high winds, etc). This ensures that Sentinels can continue the mission while ensuring safety. It is the responsibility of the Chain of Command from the Sergeant of the Guard to the Regimental Commander to ensure mission accomplishment and soldier welfare at all times. Finally, the FAQ explains: The Tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In fact, there has been a Sentinel on duty in front of the Tomb every minute of every day since 1937. There were enough interesting elements of Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Sentinels to create viral interest in a Facebook post, and there was no need to embellish the tradition for shares. It is not true that Sentinels are forced to commit two years of their life to duty, nor are they prohibited from drinking or swearing in public for life. Posted in Fact Checks , Viral Content Tagged military memes , tomb of the unknown soldier , tomb of the unknown soldier guards cant drink , tomb of the unknown soldier guards cant swear , viral facebook posts
(en)
|
![[This page as RDF]](http://data.gesis.org/claimskg/static/rdf-icon.gif){kind=icon}