The relief commander orders the relieved sentinel, "Pass on your orders." The current sentinel commands, "Post and orders, remain as directed." The newly posted sentinel replies, "Orders acknowledged," and steps into position on the black mat.

When the relief commander passes by, the new sentinel begins walking at a cadence of 90 steps per minute.

And then the Rains came!!!

SIG SAUER, Inc. is honored to announce the production and presentation of the M17 Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Pistols for the U.S. Army’s 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) for the Tomb Guard Sentinels.

The M17 Tomb of the Unknown Pistols are unique M17 pistols that were created using the same specifications for the U.S. Army’s M17 Modular Handgun System.

The ceremonial pistols are 9mm striker-fired pistols with a non-railed aluminum grip module, stainless steel slide, wood grip inserts, a 21-round magazine, and features the same optic cut as specified by the MHS contract, front night sight, removable rear plate, and black controls.

The pistols also feature a high polish to withstand the inclement weather while the Tomb Sentinels stand guard.

4th Female Sentinel
Proud to Revere Tomb’s Unknown Soldiers Hanks, a military police officer, comes from a family of military service members, and acknowledges the responsibility she shoulders as the fourth female sentinel. For the most part, though, she sees herself as just another one of the guys.

During the stom flags were placed at the Tomb Of The Unknowns.

Just as flags were to be placed at the Tomb Of The Unknowns a storm hit and all had to run for cover. Many large old trees fell, hard rains, high winds only lasting about fifteen minutes then the soldiers were back out placing flags

Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1st Class (EXW) Michael J. Strange hailed from the historic city of Philadelphia. Many rightfully consider the city of Boston as the “cradle of liberty”, but it is also true that the city on the banks of the Schuylkill River played a critical role in securing the nation’s freedom. On August 6, 2011 Petty Officer Strange’s team was called upon to participate in a mission aimed at interdicting an insurgent attack on U.S. forces. As the team’s helicopter neared the designated landing zone, it took a direct hit from an insurgent fired rocket propelled grenade. Michael, along with 29 members of his team and 8 Afghans, was killed making it the deadliest single loss for U.S. forces in the decade-long war in Afghanistan.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian R. Bill 31, of Stamford, Conn.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team; died Aug. 6, 2011 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter in which he was riding was shot down.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason, 37, of Kansas City, Mo.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team; died Aug. 6, 2011 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter in which he was riding was shot down.

LCDR (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall, 32, of Shreveport, La., was one of thirty U.S. service members who died in the Aug. 6, 2011, CH-47 Chinook helicopter crash in Wardak province, Afghanistan. Kelsall, a Caddo Magnet High School graduate, enlisted in the Navy and then completed the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training in 1997.

The Final Flight of Extortion 17
It was the deadliest helicopter crash in the history of U.S. special operations.

Extortion 17 and its 38 occupants would not return. A Taliban fighter shot the helicopter out of the sky with a rocket-propelled grenade and all aboard were killed—the single greatest loss of American life in the Afghan war. Those killed ranked among the world’s most highly trained and experienced commandos, including 15 men from Gold Squadron of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, popularly called SEAL Team 6.

39th Chief Of Staff of the United States Army, General Mark A. Milley walks with the sons of Staff Sgt. Michael H. Simpson to their Father's gravesite in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery.

Staff Sgt. Michael H. Simpson, 30, of San Antonio, Texas, died May 1, 2013, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of injuries sustained from an improvised explosive device on April 27 in Afghanistan.
Simpson was assigned to Company C, 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., as a weapons sergeant. He was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan. This was Simpson’s third deployment to an Overseas Contingency Operation.

Charles Patrick “Chuck” Schantag, Jr was born on November 22, 1947 in Philadelphia, PA the son of Charles Patrick and Louise Schantag. He had been a resident of Branson and Skidmore, MO. He was the Chairman of the P.O.W. Network, a Disabled Vietnam Veteran, USMC Purple Heart recipient. Also a member of MOPH, DAV, River Rats, Honorary member of MOZARK MOAA, NAM POWs, USARA and SFA.

Army Spc. Douglas J. Green, 23, of Sterling, Va.; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; died Aug. 28, 2011 in Sperwan Ghar, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire

Staff Sgt. Christopher Slutman, 43, of Newark, Delaware, died in a bombing April 8, 2019, in Parwan province Afghanistan. Also killed in the attack were Cpl. Robert A. Hendriks and Sgt. Benjamin S. Hines. They were assigned to the 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve. Slutman was a veteran of the Kentland, Maryland, volunteer fire department.