III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 396 

Commemorating the centennial of the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown 

Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 

Mr. MORAN (for himself, Mr. TESTER, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. REED, Mr. COTTON, 

Mr. BRAUN, and Mr. WARNOCK) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the centennial of the dedication of the Tomb 

of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. 

Whereas Congress, in the National Defense Authorization Act 

for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328), directed the 

Secretary of Defense to take appropriate action in observing the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as a historical event to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the selection and burial of an unknown solider from the United States, who fell in France during 

World War I, and honoring the service and sacrifice of 

millions of veterans; 

Whereas, the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been preparing for the commemoration of the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown SolVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:02 Sep 30, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR396.ATS SR396

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•SRES 396 ATS 

dier for several years working alongside Arlington National Cemetery, veteran service organizations, foreign allies, civic associations, Congressional partners, and private citizens to commemorate and educate the United 

States about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; 

Whereas the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was intended to 

represent more than just a single conflict, serving as a 

focal point for the United States regardless of race, 

creed, or politics where the people of the United States 

can come together as a single Nation to mourn and honor 

the fallen soldiers from the United States; 

Whereas it is essential to remember and renew the legacy of 

Veterans Day, which was established to pay tribute to individuals who have served and sacrificed on behalf of the 

United States in times of war or armed conflict, and 

their families; 

Whereas greater strides must be made to demonstrate appreciation of those loyal people of the United States whose 

values, represented by their sacrifices, are critical to the 

future of the United States; 

Whereas each citizen of the United States has a responsibility 

to raise awareness of and respect for the national heritage of the United States and to encourage citizens to 

dedicate themselves to the values and principles for which 

those heroes of the United States died; 

Whereas, on October 24, 1921, in accordance with an act of 

Congress, the World War I Unknown Soldier was selected in Chalons-sur-Marne, France; 

Whereas the World War I Unknown Soldier was protected, 

honored, and revered by the people of France who preVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:02 Sep 30, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR396.ATS SR396

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sented their nation’s highest award for valor upon this 

unknown warrior from the United States; 

Whereas, on October 25, 1921, the World War I Unknown 

Soldier began the final difficult journey home aboard the 

historic USS Olympia through the remnants of 2 hurricanes; 

Whereas, on November 9, 1921, the World War I Unknown 

Soldier arrived at the historic Washington Navy Yard in 

Washington, D.C. and lay in state at the United States 

Capitol; 

Whereas, on November 11, 1921, the World War I Unknown 

Soldier was finally laid to rest in Arlington National 

Cemetery in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after 

being conferred the Medal of Honor and other medals of 

valor from allies of the United States; 

Whereas, on May 15, 1958, the Korean War Unknown Soldier was selected at the National Memorial Cemetery of 

the Pacific in Hawaii, to represent all of the fallen and 

missing from that war; 

Whereas, on May 26, 1958, the World War II Unknown Soldier was selected at sea aboard the USS Canberra off of 

the coast of the State of Virginia, to represent all of the 

fallen and missing from that war; 

Whereas, on May 30, 1958, the World War II and Korean 

War Unknown Soldiers were buried in individual crypts 

next to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after having 

the Medal of Honor conferred upon them; 

Whereas, on May 17, 1984, the Vietnam War Unknown Soldier was designated at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to represent 

all of the fallen and missing from that war; 


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Whereas, on May 28, 1984, the Vietnam War Unknown Soldier was buried in an individual crypt, between the World 

War II and Korean War Unknown Soldier, next to the 

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after being conferred the 

Medal of Honor; 

Whereas, on May 14, 1998, the Vietnam War Unknown Soldier was disinterred and later identified as Captain Michael J. Blassie, and buried under his own name at the 

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri; 

Whereas on National POW/MIA Recognition Day on September 17, 1999, the empty Vietnam War Unknown Soldier crypt was rededicated to ‘‘Honoring and Keeping 

Faith with America’s Missing Servicemen’’ as a reminder 

of the commitment of the Armed Forces to fullest possible accounting of missing service members; 

Whereas the United States Army has provided Sentinels at 

the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier since March 25th, 

1926, and maintained a constant 24-hour vigil since midnight July 2nd, 1937; and 

Whereas the Guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are 

responsible for maintaining the highest standards of the 

military of the United States while keeping a constant 

vigil at this national shrine, and have a special duty to 

prevent any desecration or disrespect directed towards 

the Tomb of the Unknown Solder: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) commends the Society of the Honor Guard, 

3 Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on leading the comVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:02 Sep 30, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR396.ATS SR396

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1 memoration of the Centennial of the Tomb of the 

2 Unknown Soldier; 

3 (2) encourages all people of the United States 

4 to participate in fitting acts of remembrance such as 

5 designating special places in their gardens as ‘‘Never 

6 Forget’’ gardens which will serve as living tributes 

7 to all of the veterans of the United States and their 

8 families, observing a 2-minute period of silence in 

9 commemoration, the playing of taps, or attending 

10 commemoration events with allies of the United 

11 States on October 24 and 25, 2021 in France or in 

12 Washington, D.C. on November 9 and 11, 2021; and 

13 (3) encourages the attendance of Veterans’ Day 

14 ceremonies, visitation of veteran cemeteries and me15 morials, and the honoring of the American Flag. 

Æ 


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