Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Isabel Hits, but Guards at the Tomb of the Unknowns Stand TALL

Hanxter · 09-25-2003, 05:30 AM

My uncle found this in his local paper and e-mailed it to me...

ARLINGTON, Va. - For the first time, soldiers at Arlington National
Cemetery were given permission to leave their post at the Tomb of the Unknowns if Hurricane Isabel became too dangerous.

None left.

"We made the decision we were going to stand where we were," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Fredrick Geary, 37.

Around the clock each day for about two hours at a time, seven soldiers take turns guarding the tomb where the first unknown soldier was buried in 1921. But Thursday night, during the height of the storm, Sergeant of the Guard Geary took it upon himself to march for 5 1/2 hours in front of the tomb against heavy rain and 60-mph wind gusts.

The wind was so strong that it felled at least 24 trees on cemetery grounds, most more than 20 years old. Three headstones were crushed. Crews began working at 4 a.m. Friday to clean up the 612 acres scattered with downed trees and limbs. The tombstones could be replaced within two weeks,
officials said.

09-25-2003, 05:30 AM	#33 (permalink)
Hanxter The Griffin	Riding Out The Storm... My uncle found this in his local paper and e-mailed it to me... ARLINGTON, Va. - For the first time, soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery were given permission to leave their post at the Tomb of the Unknowns if Hurricane Isabel became too dangerous. None left. "We made the decision we were going to stand where we were," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Fredrick Geary, 37. Around the clock each day for about two hours at a time, seven soldiers take turns guarding the tomb where the first unknown soldier was buried in 1921. But Thursday night, during the height of the storm, Sergeant of the Guard Geary took it upon himself to march for 5 1/2 hours in front of the tomb against heavy rain and 60-mph wind gusts. The wind was so strong that it felled at least 24 trees on cemetery grounds, most more than 20 years old. Three headstones were crushed. Crews began working at 4 a.m. Friday to clean up the 612 acres scattered with downed trees and limbs. The tombstones could be replaced within two weeks, officials said.