Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Arlington), Washington D.C.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, otherwise called the Tomb of the Unknowns, honors American service members who gave their lives in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, but whose names were never recovered. In other words, this is a monument to people history could not identify, but refuses to forget...

Dedicated in 1921, the tomb stands on a hill overlooking Washington, D.C., with the kind of view usually reserved for presidents, generals, and very confident postcards. Its white marble sarcophagus holds the remains of the Unknown from World War I, while other Unknowns were later added to represent later conflicts. The World War I Unknown received the Medal of Honor, Britain’s Victoria Cross, and other foreign awards, proving that even without a name, a soldier’s sacrifice can speak across nations.

The tomb is guarded every hour of every day by sentinels from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard.” Rain, snow, heat, holidays, midnight — no matter what the calendar or weather is doing, the watch continues. The Changing of the Guard is one of Arlington’s most solemn ceremonies, carried out with exact steps, crisp salutes, and a level of precision that makes ordinary walking look badly organized.

From October through March, the ceremony takes place every hour. From April through September, it occurs every half-hour. It is quiet, formal, and deeply moving — a reminder that some names may be lost, but their service is not.