It sits on a hill in Arlington, carved from a single block of Yule marble, watched over by an American soldier every minute of every day since 1937. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is one of the most sacred places in America. This is the story of who rests there, why a soldier never leaves the post, and what it all means.
What the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Is
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia that holds the remains of unidentified American service members. It honors every U.S. service member whose body was never recovered or who could not be identified after their death in combat.
The Tomb itself is a rectangular sarcophagus carved from Yule marble quarried in Colorado. The east-facing side, which looks out over Washington, D.C., is sculpted with three figures representing Peace, Victory, and Valor. The north and south sides feature six wreaths, each one symbolic of a major battle from World War I.
The west side carries the inscription that has come to define the place:
★ The Inscription
| Line 1 | HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY |
| Line 2 | AN AMERICAN SOLDIER |
| Line 3 | KNOWN BUT TO GOD |
Those words are not symbolic. They are the literal truth. The men buried here have no names that we know. Only God knows who they were. That is the whole point of the place.
How the Tomb Came to Be
The idea came from World War I. By 1918, more than 116,000 Americans had died in the war and thousands could not be identified. Families across the country grieved sons they could not bury. France and Britain had already established their own tombs of unknown soldiers. The United States followed.
On Memorial Day 1921, four unidentified American soldiers were exhumed from cemeteries in France. Sergeant Edward Younger, a decorated combat veteran, was given a single white rose and asked to choose. He walked around the four caskets, paused, and laid the rose on the third casket from the left. That soldier was placed aboard the USS Olympia and sailed home.
On November 11, 1921, the third anniversary of the Armistice, that unknown soldier was laid to rest at Arlington with full national honors. President Warren G. Harding gave the eulogy. The Medal of Honor was placed on the casket. A nation that did not know his name buried him as if he were the only son of every American family.
Who Rests at the Tomb
For most of its history, the Tomb has held more than one unknown. Over the decades, soldiers from later wars were added so that no generation went unrepresented.
| 1 | World War I Unknown. Interred November 11, 1921. Selected by Sergeant Edward Younger from four candidates exhumed from American cemeteries in France. |
| 2 | World War II Unknown. Interred Memorial Day 1958. Chosen at sea aboard the USS Canberra from candidates representing both the European and Pacific theaters. |
| 3 | Korean War Unknown. Interred Memorial Day 1958 alongside the WWII Unknown. Selected from four candidates at the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. |
| 4 | Vietnam War Unknown. Interred Memorial Day 1984. Identified by DNA testing in 1998 as Air Force pilot Michael Blassie. His remains were returned to his family. The Vietnam crypt has been left empty since, with the cover stone replaced to read "Honoring and Keeping Faith with America's Missing Servicemen." |
The DNA identification of Michael Blassie was a turning point. Modern forensic science means future Unknowns are unlikely. The crypt remains as a tribute to the more than 1,500 Americans still missing from the Vietnam War and to all service members whose remains may never be recovered.
The Old Guard: The Soldiers Who Never Leave
The Tomb has been guarded continuously since July 2, 1937. Not just during the day. Not just on holidays. Every minute of every hour of every day. In hurricanes, blizzards, and the long quiet of 3 a.m., a soldier is walking that mat.
The Tomb Guards belong to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard. It is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army, dating back to 1784, and it serves as the official escort to the President. The soldiers who guard the Tomb are a small, hand-picked detachment of that regiment.
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88 Years of unbroken vigil at the Tomb. The first official 24-hour guard began on July 2, 1937, and has never stopped, not even during Hurricane Sandy or the COVID-19 lockdowns. |
Becoming a Tomb Guard is one of the hardest assignments in the U.S. Army. The training is brutal and the standards are unforgiving. Less than 20 percent of soldiers who try out earn the badge.
★ Tomb Guard Standards
| Height | Between 5'10" and 6'4" |
| Build | Proportional, with strict weight limits |
| Memorize | 17 pages of cemetery history, verbatim |
| Uniform | Inspected with quarter-inch rulers and quart bottles of water |
| Steps | Exactly 21 paces, then 21 seconds of silence, repeated |
| Tour | Typically 9 to 18 months |
The 21 paces and 21-second pauses are not arbitrary. They reference the 21-gun salute, the highest military honor that can be rendered. The Guard's rifle is also kept on the shoulder farthest from the Tomb, between the soldier and any potential threat. Every motion has meaning.
The Changing of the Guard
The Changing of the Guard ceremony happens every 30 minutes from April through September and every hour the rest of the year. At night, when the cemetery is closed, the change happens every two hours. It runs with the same precision whether ten thousand visitors are watching or zero.
| 1 | The Relief Commander arrives. A Sergeant of the Guard steps onto the plaza, salutes the Tomb, and announces the ceremony. Visitors are asked to stand and remain silent. |
| 2 | The new Sentinel marches in. A second Tomb Guard, in dress blues, marches onto the mat with rifle at shoulder arms. |
| 3 | Inspection of the rifle. The Relief Commander inspects the new sentinel's M14 rifle in a precise sequence of movements. Every snap and turn is timed and rehearsed for hours. |
| 4 | The handoff. The outgoing and incoming sentinels meet at the center of the mat, salute the Tomb together, and exchange the post. The new sentinel begins the 21-pace walk. |
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The Storms They Stood Through
The most famous test of the guards' resolve came in 2003, when Hurricane Isabel barreled toward Washington. The Old Guard offered the sentinels permission to seek shelter as Category 2 winds tore through Arlington. The sentinels declined. They walked the mat through the storm.
That was not a one-time choice. During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the same thing happened. The guards stayed. When the Tomb was threatened by terrorism scares, by snowstorms, by lightning that struck the surrounding trees, they stayed.
There is no rule that requires them to stand a hurricane. The rule is that they choose to. As one former Tomb Guard put it, the Unknown Soldier did not get to walk away from his battlefield, so they will not walk away from his.
The Tomb Guard Identification Badge
The Tomb Guard Identification Badge is one of the rarest awards in the U.S. military. It is the second least-awarded badge in the Army, behind only the Astronaut Badge. Fewer than 800 soldiers have earned it since 1958.
To earn the badge, a soldier must complete months of training, pass a 100-question test on cemetery history with a score of 95 or higher, and serve a flawless tour. Even after earning it, the badge can be revoked, even after retirement, for actions that bring discredit to the unit. That includes things like a DUI conviction, decades after a soldier's service has ended. The standard does not have an expiration date.
Visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Arlington National Cemetery is open to the public year-round. The Tomb is a short walk from the Memorial Avenue entrance. The Changing of the Guard is free to watch and one of the most powerful experiences a visitor can have on American soil.
| 1 | Plan your visit early. The cemetery opens at 8 a.m. and the first ceremony of the day is at 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. depending on the season. Mornings are quieter and the light is better for paying respects. |
| 2 | Stand and remove your hat. When the Relief Commander asks for silence, stand if you are able and stay still. No phones, no cameras up, no talking. The sentinel will call out anyone who breaks the rule, loudly. |
| 3 | Apply for a wreath-laying ceremony. Veterans groups, schools, scout troops, and individuals can request to participate in a public wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb. Applications are submitted through the Arlington National Cemetery website. |
| 4 | Visit on Memorial Day or Veterans Day. The President or Vice President places a wreath at the Tomb on both holidays. Crowds are large but the ceremony is unforgettable. |
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Common Mistakes Visitors Make
MISTAKE 01
Talking during the ceremony.
When the Relief Commander asks for silence, that is not a suggestion. The sentinels will stop the ceremony and address any disrespect, by name and by volume, until it stops.
MISTAKE 02
Crossing the chains.
The mat is sacred ground. Stepping over the chains is a violation that has gotten visitors removed from the cemetery. The chains are there for a reason.
MISTAKE 03
Wearing a hat through the ceremony.
Men should remove hats during the ceremony as a sign of respect. The exception is religious headwear and active-duty military covers worn with uniform.
MISTAKE 04
Treating it like a tourist photo op.
Yes, take pictures. But the Tomb is not a backdrop for a thumbs-up selfie. People are buried there. Carry yourself like you remember that.
If you are taking your kids, talk to them before you arrive. Explain what they are about to see and why it matters. Children rise to the occasion when adults give them the chance.
Pair this with our guide to Memorial Day 2026 traditions and our breakdown of the 13 folds of the American flag for a fuller picture of how this nation honors its fallen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guarded 24 hours a day?
Yes. The Tomb has been guarded continuously since July 2, 1937. A sentinel from the 3rd U.S. Infantry walks the mat in every weather condition, around the clock, including holidays and during the cemetery's closed hours.
How many soldiers are buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?
Three. The remains of unknown soldiers from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War rest at the Tomb. The Vietnam crypt is empty after the remains held there were identified through DNA testing in 1998 and returned to the family.
What does the inscription on the Tomb say?
The west side of the Tomb reads "Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God." The phrase honors all U.S. service members whose remains have never been identified.
Why do the Tomb Guards take 21 steps?
The 21 paces, followed by a 21-second pause, mirror the 21-gun salute, the highest military honor in the United States. Every step the sentinel takes is a tribute.
Have the Tomb Guards ever stopped guarding the Tomb?
No. Despite hurricanes, blizzards, and even the COVID-19 lockdowns, the Tomb has not been left unguarded since 1937. Sentinels have been offered shelter during severe weather and chosen to stay on post.
Who can become a Tomb Guard?
Tomb Guards are hand-selected soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard. Candidates must meet strict height and build requirements, memorize 17 pages of cemetery history verbatim, and pass a rigorous training program. Fewer than 20 percent who try out earn the badge.
The Tomb honors the unidentified. Gold Star Families honor the named. Read our companion guide to what a Gold Star Family is and how to honor them for the rest of the Memorial Day picture.
Related reading: What Is a 21-Gun Salute? History, Meaning, and When It's Used walks through the cannon salute, the three-volley rifle salute, and the full sequence of military funeral honors.
For the visual story of how Marines today honor men like the Iwo Jima flag raisers, see our deep dive on the Iwo Jima flag raising, the real history of the photograph and the six men in it.
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day; for the full origin story, see What Is Decoration Day? The Civil War Origins of Memorial Day.
For more on the rituals tied to a military funeral, read our guide to the meaning behind the flag-draped casket.
For the place where these traditions come together in person, see our guide to Arlington National Cemetery and how to visit.
Related: read our deep dive on the battlefield cross and what each piece of gear means. It is one of the most powerful Memorial Day memorials, and most people have never had it explained to them.
Related reading: The Missing Man Table: Meaning, History, and How to Set One Up covers the empty place setting that honors the missing comrade at every military gathering.
If you have a WWII, Korean War, or Vietnam vet in your life who has not yet seen the memorials in DC, learn about Honor Flight, the nonprofit that flies veterans to Washington for free, and consider helping them make the trip while there is still time.
For more on the symbols at a military funeral, see our guide to the Battle Cross fallen soldier memorial with the meaning of every piece of gear.
The same regiment that guards the Tomb is also responsible for Flags In, the ceremony where the Old Guard places a small American flag at every grave at Arlington before Memorial Day.
For the larger story of how America honors the Vietnam generation, see our guide to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, the 58,318 names carved into black granite on the National Mall.
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Honor Them The Way They Earned. Fly the flag right. Wear the truth. Remember the names we know and the ones we never will. |
Related reading: Why we place coins on military graves and what each coin means.
Planning your visit? Read our full guide on how to visit a national cemetery on Memorial Day for what to bring, when to arrive, and the quiet rules nobody hands you at the gate.
