Visiting Washington D.C. is something every American should do. There are many wonderful museums and monuments to visit. There is a quiet sadness you feel walking along the wall with the names of those we lost during the Vietnam war. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery (in Virginia) has been guarded 24/7 since 1937.

To become tomb guard is not easy, once an application has been accepted, there is a series of tests and hours of training. Each soldier works a 24-hour shift. They “walk the mat” from 30 minutes to 2 hours. If they are not walking, they are in the living quarters under the tomb. In this video, we see a Tomb Guard remind the people about respect for the dead – with authority.

Respect has to be earned. The men and women of our Armed Forces who gave their lives in the defense of this country deserve our respect. SHARE if you agree.