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In the beautiful Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on a hillside overlooking the historic Potomac River is a Shrine that has become the mecca for not only all Americans who visit Washington but many prominent dignitaries and persons from foreign lands.
It is the Tomb of America's Unknown Soldier, symbolizing those of America who gave their lives in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, in defense of the Nation's integrity, honor and tranquility.
On March 4, 1921, Congress approved a Resolution providing for the burial in Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Amphitheater on Armistice Day 1921 of an unknown and unidentified American soldier of World War I. Four bodies of Unknown American Soldiers were disinterred from four French cemeteries and taken to the City Hall at Chalons-sur-Marne, France, Oct. 24, 1921. The utmost care was taken to see that there was no evidence of identification on the bodies selected and no indication that their identity could ever be established. In view of his outstanding service, Sergeant Edward Younger, on duty with the American Forces in Germany, was given the honor of making the final selection. Sgt. Younger selected the unknown by placing a spray of white roses on the third casket from the left.
The Armed Cruiser Olympia
The chosen unknown soldier was transported to the United States aboard the USS Olympia. Those remaining were interred in the Meuse Argonne Cemetery, France. The Unknown Soldier lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda from his arrival in the United States until Armistice Day, (now known as Veterans Day)
On Nov. 11, 1921, at 8 :30 A.M., the casket was carried down the steps of the Capitol Building, placed on a horse drawn caisson, and escorted to the Memorial Amphitheater inArlington National Cemetery under a military escort, with general officers of the Army and Admirals of the Navy for pallbearers, and non-commissioned officers of the Navy and Marine Corps for body bearers.
In attendence for this historic event was President Warren G. Harding and his wife, States, the Vice-President, Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, wearers of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Senators, Members of Congress, the Generals of the Armies of World War I, and former Wars, and other distinguished Army, Navy and Marine Corps officers, Veterans of World War I, and former Wars, State officials and representatives of patriotic organizations.
A simple but impressive funeral ceremony before a huge crowd was conducted, which included an address by the President of the United States who conferred upon the Unknown Soldier the Congressional Medal of Honor
Congressional Medal Of Honor And the Distinguished Service Cross.
Following this ceremony special representatives of foreign governments associated with the United States in World War I conferred upon the Unknown the highest military decoration of their Nation. With three salvos of artillery, the sounding of taps and the National Salute, the impressive ceremonies were brought to a close.
For the first few years the tomb was unguarded, but due largely to the fact that so many tourists used the tomb for a picnic table, in 1925 a civilian was hired to guard the tomb during cemetery hours.
Then on March 24, 1926, a military guard from the Washington Provisional Brigade, was put in charge of guarding the tomb only during the daylight hours. It wasn't until 1937 that the tomb was placed under guard 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Finally, in 1948 the 3rd. Army infantry (nicknamed The Old Guard ) took over the job of guarding the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier, and that job remains in their very capable hands to this very day.
It was originally intended that the simple white marble Tomb placed over the grave of The Unknown Soldier immediately after the interment should serve as a base for an appropriate superstructure. Accordingly, very shortly after the ceremonies on November 11, 1921, the question of selecting a suitable monument to complete the Tomb was given consideration. It was not until July 3, 1926, however, that the Congress finally authorized the completion of the Tomb and the expenditure of $50,000 therefore.
Immediately the search began to find a designer for the tomb , and when a decision was reached the name of the winner was placed in a sealed envelope and the winning design was the work of Thomas Hudson Jones, sculptor, and Lorimer Rich, Architect, of New York City.
Front view of the original design
The design selected was in the form of a sarcophagus, simple but impressive, and most appropriate for the purpose for which desired. The total height is 11 feet, the width is 8 feet at the base and 6 feet 8 inches at the top, and the length is 13 feet 11 inches at the base and 12 feet 7 inches at the top.
Carved on the East side (the front of the Tomb, (which faces Washington, D.C. & the Potomac) is a composite of three figures, commemorative of the spirit of the Allies of World War I. In the center of the panel stands Victory (female). On the right side, a male figure symbolizes Valor. On the left side stands Peace, with her palm branch to reward the devotion and sacrifice that went with courage to make the cause of righteousness triumphant.
On the west side appears the inscription "Here Rests In Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God". This is the only inscription appearing on the Tomb. The marble is the finest and whitest of American marble--Yule, Colorado, marble, the same as was used in the Lincoln Memorial. The Tomb is made of only four pieces of marble--the die, which is all in one piece and one of the largest ever quarried, weighing over 50 tons; the base; the sub-base, and the capstone.
Please continue to Page Two, there is so much more to learn about The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier. The other pages cover the Unknown Soldiers from W.W. ll, the Korean War,the Vietnam War, how the tomb guards are chosen, and the biggest attraction at The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier, the Changing Of The Guard. If you enjoy this website please share it with everyone you know who you think will enjoy it as well. You only have to send Page One as I will have a link-on each page to the next and also a link to the preceding pages.--Mary
December--2007
--MARY
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