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5. How often are the guards changed?
Guards are changed every thirty minutes,
twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.
In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington , DC , our US Senate/House took 2 days
off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC evening news, it was reported that because of
the dangers from the hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb
of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment.
They respectfully declined the offer, "No way, Sir!" Soaked to the skin, marching in the
pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment,
it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a service person. The tomb has been patrolled
continuously, 24/7, since 1930.
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