Disrespect at the Tomb of the Unknowns...

[PALADIN85020]

As many of you know, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers in Washington, D.C. is given a 24-hour guard, rain or snow, sunshine and darkness. I've viewed the changing of the guard there in person. It's very impressive. Those guards are there not only to protect the Tomb, but to enforce all due respect. This clip shows an incident during which a spectator was laughing annoyingly. View for yourself what happened. I suspect quiet prevailed after that.

John

No Laughing at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

 

[26Ford]

Thank you for posting that. To think some people ACTUALLY need to be told that, very sad. Very, very sad indeed.

 

[steveno]

I wonder if a "blanket party" would help matters? they sure deserve it

 

[sophie]

It is a fact that some people nowadays don't know how to show respect. He taught them a good lesson. Thanks for the post.

_________
James

 

[A10]

My grandson (future Marine) Jason was honored with being selected to lay a wreath at the tomb. Tears me up just typing this. He knows what it means, and is justifiably proud. Me too, by the way.......

 

[Raider]

The 'guard', I think he has another title, has an excellent command voice. Its a shame that people can't show respect but people acting like human donkeys seems to be the norm nowadays.

Charie

 

[Steve in Vermont]

I lost my brother as a result of Vietnam. If I had been there, and that jerk didn't quiet down, he and I would have...met.

 

[pawncop]

Respect is a value that has been neglected far too long. I commend our young man for teaching a lesson. It is so sad that it needed to be taught.

 

[Armyphotog]

Thank you so much for posting that! I wasn't aware that the guards were allowed to speak or take any action at the tomb. It makes me proud that they enforce that "respect" when necessary. Someone posed the question what would have happened next, if the laugher had continued. How about a "vertical butt stroke".

 

[steamloco76]

The same flagrant lack of respect for our Fallen Heroes happens during moments of silence at public events. People are so self absorbed they can't shut their cake holes for 30 seconds. I heard a couple of middle aged women cackling away during Taps/Echo at a Memorial Day service a couple years ago. The pained look on the few WWII/Korea/Viet Nam vets on hand was totally wasted on those two fools. Finally the one woman's pre-teen son poked her and said "Mom! Quiet!" She wasn't very happy.

I am glad the OP posted that video. It needs to be passed around.

 

[Cooter Brown]

The lack of civility and respect these days is shocking.

Going to a ball game is a frustrating experience for me because of the way people act (and don't act) during the National Anthem.

That is a great little piece of video. Sad that he had to do it. Those voices laughing and playing grab*** at the tomb are clearly adult.

Armyphotog, there is a rule of silence for the guards--if you notice he steps off that strip of carpet before he speaks--there's certainly some symbolism there, and he is allowed to do what he did, but must step off the carpet before speaking.

Hopefully someone more familiar with this will chime in.

 

[labworm]

Sometimes the idiots believe they are at a tourist attraction, sad to think, they have no idea as to why these memorials exist.

 

[PALADIN85020]

The lack of civility and respect these days is shocking.

Going to a ball game is a frustrating experience for me because of the way people act (and don't act) during the National Anthem.

That is a great little piece of video. Sad that he had to do it. Those voices laughing and playing grab*** at the tomb are clearly adult.

Armyphotog, there is a rule of silence for the guards--if you notice he steps off that strip of carpet before he speaks--there's certainly some symbolism there, and he is allowed to do what he did, but must step off the carpet before speaking.

Hopefully someone more familiar with this will chime in.

I believe it is not protocol to call someone on the carpet; be that as it may, stepping off the carpet to chastise an idiot or two meets with my approval, for sure.

John

 

[Dennis The B]

When I was serving my country, in 1970, our unit was selected to participate in the Memorial Day commemoration at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (as it was then known). I was fortunate enough to be within "touching distance" of then-President Richard Nixon. Even his voice quivered when he gave a small speech.

I was a young, not quite 23, at the time. However, no ceremony was ever any more serious.

"All gave some. Some gave all."

 

[moosedog]

A sad commentary on todays ignorance. No wonder we are in the sad state of affairs that we are.
Thanks for posting that.

 

[COL Jagdog]

The Old Guard trains these troops according to a precise protocol --
a supreme honor to be one of the few allowed to serve in this capacity. Women also now serve at the Tomb, as it should be. If this scene had escalated, there is an SOP in place to deal with disruptive
folks -- including Capitol police and MP's -- and depending on the level of misconduct, moronic people may face either federal misdemeanors or felonies for their conduct.

It is an absolute shame that we have become a nation inculcated in incivility, given that we were once known in Europe and elsewhere as a nation that embraced civility.

For my part, I have steadily taught my two young sons the importance of respect for their elders, for the nation and flag, for veterans, and to have a deep and abiding respect for women. It all starts at home.
And it ain't rocket science. Simple respect for the things that deserve respect.

And particularly, at the Tomb. As I have told many young folks when I have spoken at high schools -- "A man's highest honor is to do his duty for his country". Many thanks to Paladin for starting this thread.

 

[jmg1911]

Yup! That is known as "command presence." Good job, Marine!

 

[Badkarma 1]

Been there myself on several occasions and especially Memorial Day, to the solider I say. HOOYAH and WELL DONE!! Too the morons, it's a good thing I wasn't there! Dale

 

[jdh]

Yup! That is known as "command presence." Good job, SOLDIER!

Fixed it for you.

 

[Dragon88]

I've been to the Tomb a couple times and seen the changing of the guard, it really is impressive. I was dead silent when I was there, and even reminded the people I was with to be silent as soon as the Tomb was in sight as we walked up. Laughing and being a buffoon in a place like that is just incomprehensible...

On my middle school trip to DC, I was selected along with seven other students to lay a wreath at the Tomb. I didn't fully understand it then, but I certainly do now!