Old Guard Stays at Tomb of Unknowns in Superstorm

Arlington National Cemetery has been closed to tourists because of Hurricane Sandy, but the Army continues to stand guard over the Tomb of the Unknowns.

The Army's Third U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, is responsible for guarding the tomb.

Regiment spokesman Maj. John Miller says when the cemetery closes, the guard continues.

But it's not the familiar, choreographed 21-pace guard that the public typically sees. Instead, soldiers in combat uniforms guard the tomb from a small enclosure covered by a green awning known as "the box," about 20 feet away.

Miller says if the weather becomes intolerable, the tomb can be guarded from a room inside a nearby amphitheater. But no such order had been given as of Monday afternoon.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
 

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