Photo of Honor Guards at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Amid Storm Leaves Viewers in Awe
Image Shared on Facebook, Twitter as East Coast Residents Prepare for Hurricane Sandy
Web users were in awe Monday morning of an image showing Honor Guards standing on duty at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in the face of adverse weather as Hurricane Sandy bore down on the East Coast.
"Soldiers stand guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Guarded non-stop since 1948. In Sandy's path they continue," shared Kristy Bolsinger as she re-tweeted the popular image on Twitter.
Tyler Borchers was so impressed that he used only one word to react to the striking image: "Powerful."
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That sentiment was shared by hundreds of Twitter users Monday, many simply writing that the image was "amazing," "sobering" and "unbelievable."
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington County, Va., is monitored around the clock by the Society of Honor Guards.
The striking image was shared Monday morning by First Army Division East on its Facebook page, although the photo was originally captured in September, according to Poynter.org.
"Soldiers of the 3rd Inf Reg. continue to stand guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, despite the worsening weather conditions surrounding Hurricane Sandy. The tomb has been guarded continuously since 1948," the photo caption read.
The image since has been shared more than 14,000 times on Facebook and "liked" by over 16,000 users.
There were some Facebook users who questioned why the Honor Guards seen in the photo of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier remained on duty despite the adverse weather.
"Only those who have served, and understand the meaning of true dedication beyond one's self, would understand why they stay. I pray for ALL who serve our great country," wrote John Almodovar in response to some of the questions.
Alex Tressler explained, however, "They will soon move under a tarp then if it gets worse into a small chamber that has awards and plaques hanging up and has a direct line of sight to the tomb."
He added, "Stay safe my brethren."
The Tomb of the Unknowns, as the monument is also called, is dedicated to U.S. service men and women who have died and whose remains have not been identified.
"The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Tomb) was established in 1921. The Unknown Soldiers laid to rest at the Tomb represent all missing and unknown service members who made the ultimate sacrifice – they not only gave their lives, but also their identities to protect these freedoms," reads the overview on the official Tomb Guard website. "The Tomb is the final resting place for Unknowns from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, and is guarded at all times."
