Arlington National Cemetery Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Source: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/visitor_information/tomb_of_the_unknowns.html
Source Feed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJraMJ0sAE4&feature=channel_page

Date: March 4, 1921

The Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., is also known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and has never been officially named. The Tomb of the Unknowns stands atop a hill overlooking Washington, D.C. On March 4, 1921, Congress approved the burial of an unidentified American soldier from World War I in the plaza of the new Memorial Amphitheater.




On Memorial Day, 1921, four unknowns were exhumed from four World War I American cemeteries in France. U.S. Army Sgt. Edward F. Younger, who was wounded in combat, highly decorated for valor and received the Distinguished Service Medal in "The Great War, the war to end all wars," selected the Unknown Soldier of World War I from four identical caskets at the city hall in Chalons-sur-Marne, France, Oct. 24, 1921. Sgt. Younger selected the unknown by placing a spray of white roses on one of the caskets. He chose the third casket from the left. 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 of World War II and Korea

On Aug. 3, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill to select and pay tribute to the unknowns of World War II and Korea. The selection ceremonies and the interment of these unknowns took place in 1958. The World War II Unknown was selected from remains exhumed from cemeteries in Europe, Africa, Hawaii and the Philippines.

The Unknown of Vietnam
The Unknown service member from the Vietnam War was designated by Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Allan Jay Kellogg Jr. during a ceremony at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, May 17, 1984. The Vietnam Unknown was transported aboard the USS Brewton to Alameda Naval Base, Calif. The remains were sent to Travis Air Force Base, Calif., May 24. The Vietnam Unknown arrived at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., the next day. Many Vietnam veterans and President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan visited the Vietnam Unknown in the U.S. Capitol. An Army caisson carried the Vietnam Unknown from the Capitol to the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, May 28, 1984. President Reagan presided over the funeral, and presented the Medal of Honor to the Vietnam Unknown.

Military Funerals

The most frequent ceremony carried out at Arlington National Cemetery is usually private and intensely emotional. Customs for funerals are time honored - here a brief overview and for visiting clergy a guide to procedural protocol... More

Wreath Layings

The gift of flowers at a memorial site is a ritual that occurs around the world, understood in every culture. The floral tributes at funerals bespeak both the beauty and the brevity of life and evoke memories of other days. These sorts of offerings are made each day at Arlington National Cemetery, ... More

The Origin of the 21-Gun Salute

The tradition of saluting can be traced to the Middle Ages practice of placing oneself in an unarmed position and, therefore, in the power of those being honored... More

The Origin of "Taps"

During the Civil War, in July 1862, Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield whistled a tune and asked the bugler to sound it for him... More

Ruffles and Flourishes

Ruffles are played on drums, and flourishes are played on bugles... More

The Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknowns

The Tomb of the Unknowns is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and in any weather by Tomb Guard sentinels - considered to be the best of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry... More

The 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard)

Home page of the infantry regiment that mounts the honor guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and assists with funeral services through casket teams, honor guards, and caisson transport.

Kennedy's in Arlington:
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/historical_information/JFK.html

When the United States was drawn into the war, Kennedy enlisted in the Navy as did his older brother, Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Jack became commander of a PT boat and fought in the Pacific Theater against the Japanese. Joe became a Navy flyer and, after getting his wings, flew missions in the Caribbean. Kennedy's boat, PT-109, was rammed the night of Aug. 1 and 2, 1943, by an enemy destroyer. Lt. Kennedy managed to lead 10 of the crew to a nearby island where they were rescued a week later.

A month later, Joe Kennedy became part of the first U.S. Navy squadron to fly B-24s with the British Naval Command. After many missions, extending his term of service twice, the elder brother died Aug. 12, 1944, on a secret mission to attack a V-2 Rocket position in Normandy by crashing a pilotless drone loaded with high explosives into it. The drone exploded before its pilots could transfer radio control to a mother aircraft and bail out.