how the military restores my faith in mankind.

something i love about blogging is how involved justin has become with it. he will often make suggestions & offer constructive criticism on what i write about & how i deliver it. one thing he is always reminding me is that i need to write more about events, about news. one of his favorite posts actually comes from my old blog, pickle's progress. it's about the tornadoes that happened in the new york area a little over two years ago. [you can read it here].

so, when he suggested i write a little bit about the current weather situation on the east coast - & more specifically, about the old guard - i knew i couldn't pass it up.

whenever it is stormy weather outside, i always find myself focusing on the cozy aspect of the situation.

'ooooh, it's raining pretty hard outside - all i want to do is lie in my bed all day.'

it's what almost everyone says, &, i'm willing to bet, what nearly everyone thinks. but can you imagine having to do your job - outside - every single day, no matter the weather? it's raining, you're standing outside. it's 140 degrees, you're standing outside. it's snowing, you're standing outside. a hurricane is coming through your area, & you're standing outside. 

well, that's exactly what the soldiers of the 3rd u.s. infantry regiment - also known as the old guard - do. and as you may have seen in articles like this one, they have been receiving a lot of media attention lately, for continuing to stand guard over the tomb of the unknown soldier in arlington national cemetery in virginia, despite hurricane sandy beating up the east coast.

to say the very least, i think what these soldiers do is amazing. it's very rare in our society today, that we hear about this kind of reverence, about this kind of respect. of keeping something sacred. i think that is what touches me the most about what they are doing, what they are protecting. 

the tomb of the unknown soldier is where the remains of an unidentified soldier is buried, as a memorial for all soldiers who have died unknown in a particular war. many countries have tombs of unknown soldiers for various wars fought on their soils, but the one in virginia memorializes unknowns from three wars. it has been perpetually guarded, twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week, since july 2, 1937.

as i told justin last night while we were discussing this, the act of service that is being provided to these veterans restores my faith in mankind. to know that these souls who gave the absolute ultimate american sacrifice - dying anonymously for their country - are protected by members the military, no matter what the weather, time of day, etc., is largely - enormously - comforting. it's something we don't hear about every day. but every day, they are still out there. and i can't adequately express my gratitude in knowing that that kind of service - that kind of dedication, still lives on in this present day & age.

so i'd like to extend a thank you to the old guard - 

& largely, to all members of the military - 

for their unfailing, unwavering service.

photo: u.s. army photo by sgt. jose a. torres jr \ 

3d u.s. infantry regiment (the old guard)'s facebook page