Despite Sandy, soldiers guard Tomb of Unknown Soldier
As conditions relating to Hurricane Sandy worsen along the East Coast, Soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Regiment will continue to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Virginia's Arlington National Cemetery throughout - although they won't be exposed to the elements during the worst of the storm.
The tomb, which was erected following World War I and honors the memory of unidentified soldiers killed in any war, has been guarded continuously by members of the 3rd Infantry's Honor Guard since 1948.
Earlier today, a photo circulated on Twitter and Facebook showing three soldiers standing guard in front of the tomb amid a torrential downpour. That photo, as it turned out, was not from today. But the above photo depicts Spc. Brett Hyde, Tomb Sentinel, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment, keeping guard over the Tomb earlier today during Hurricane Sandy at Arlington National Cemetery.
According to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, soldiers aren't necessarily guarding the tomb in the open air after the cemetery closes for extreme weather, which it has done due to Sandy. Instead, they wear camouflage and keep guard from a protected area.
