Hurricane does not stop sentinels at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

[HonestChieffan]

Dedication for sure. Amazing photo

[LVNHACK]

Literature, Direkshun and Saulbadguy....am I right...?

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Old Dog

I'm not trying to be an ass here Fish, but it's one of those things you just aren't going to understand.

Yes, I think you are right. I'm not trying to be an ass either. Please excuse my ignorance.

[LVNHACK]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

OK, so evidently they aren't ordered to stay in dangerous weather. And in fact they disobeyed orders during Hurricane Isabel, and stood post during the storm.

This is even more confusing.....

Dude....Somethings you're just not gonna understand....

[L.A. Chieffan]

KC Fish is a robot made by Apple.

[blaise]

KC Fish, just in case you didn't know- they don't stand there for hours on end. Guys rotate in and out every half hour or so. There's a little room of some kind they have under the building, too. So, one group is out there and then another comes out, so the other ones can go inside.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Yes, I think you are right. I'm not trying to be an ass either. Please excuse my ignorance.

It's certainly symbolic rather than logical. But the symbolism is that they're keeping guard over all of those who have been killed, but never identified, in wars over our country's entire history. The Tomb is, by far, the most revered grave in the U.S. and is treated as such.

It's not completely unlike guards at Buckingham Palace in England. Those are largely symbolic as well. We just choose to symbolically guard those who gave their lives for this country rather than monarchs.

[blaise]

If you're never seen it it's pretty awesome when they change guards. It the one must-see thing if you're in the DC area, in my opinion.

[Strongside]

Originally Posted by blaise

If you're never seen it it's pretty awesome when they change guards. It the one must-see thing if you're in the DC area, in my opinion.

Yeah it's pretty incredible, for sure.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Yes, I think you are right. I'm not trying to be an ass either. Please excuse my ignorance.

It would probably help to look up the history of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, understand what it represents.

[blaise]

Now, a weatherman standing outside in a hurricane? That's stupid.

[Hammock Parties]

Those guys need to go be safe with their families.

We didn't send people to die in wars aboard to let people die at home due to standing in front of Hurricanes.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

Those guys need to go be safe with their families.

We didn't send people to die in wars aboard to let people die at home due to standing in front of Hurricanes.

I'd generally agree, but you're not going to convince the guards to do it.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

This is one military tradition that I've never really understood. I have all the respect in the world for our military force. But why make these poor guys stand motionless out there in bad weather? What point does that make? We all know these guys are dedicated and committed, and a helluva lot tougher than me. But this just seems completely unnecessary. What if a hurricane hits them out there? Should we really risk their lives just to make a point about how tough and committed they are?

Sorry, no disrespect to soldiers. I just can't understand how this is justified these days.

They guard the tomb out of respect, Mr. KC Fish. There really isn't any more to it than that and they require no other reason.

But I fear that, as time goes on, the concept of respect becomes stranger and makes less sense to more people. In fact, I would venture to say that respect is something that few people truly understand anymore.

You know, the ancient Greeks had this extremely important concept called "sophrosyne". Unfortunately, that word can no longer be translated by any single English word.

This quality, "sophrosyne" was, to the Greeks, an ideal second to none in importance. But it is no longer counted among our ideals. We have simply lost the conception of it. We can sort of describe its parts (after a fashion), but we cannot name it or properly define it. It is a human quality that, once revered, no longer exists.

I have a theory that the same thing is eventually going to happen with our Western concept of respect. At some point in the future, it will be an extinct idea to feel or hold "respect" for another human being.

FAX

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by blaise

If you're never seen it it's pretty awesome when they change guards. It the one must-see thing if you're in the DC area, in my opinion.

I served with a guy who had that assignment....it is nothing short of incredible.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by FAX

But I fear that, as time goes on, the concept of respect becomes stranger and makes less sense to more people. In fact, I would venture to say that respect is something that few people truly understand anymore.



FAX

..sadly, it's already happening...going into Arrowhead yesterday....NA starts..I stop and put my hand on my heart....was about the only one ..hundreds didn't stop...it was like it meant nothing....