To recognize the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Whereas, on October 24, 1921, the body of one unidentified member of the Armed Forces who died during World War I was selected as the United States Unknown Soldier; Whereas, on November 11, 1921, the Unknown Soldier from World War I was placed on a horse-drawn caisson and carried in a procession through the District of Columbia and across the Potomac River; Whereas a state funeral ceremony was held that day at Arlington National Cemetery’s new Memorial Amphitheater, and the Unknown Soldier was interred in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; Whereas, in March 1926, soldiers from nearby forts were first assigned to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where guards presented only during visiting hours and discouraged visitors from disrespecting the tomb, and in 1937, the guards began a continuous presence, standing watch over the tomb at all times; Whereas the Nation observed two minutes of silence during the ceremony for the burial of the World War I Unknown, and President Warren G. Harding spoke at the ceremony and placed the Medal of Honor, the Nation’s highest military decoration, on the casket; Whereas, following World War II, many Americans supported interring and honoring an Unknown from that war; however, the start of the Korean war in 1950 delayed those plans; Whereas, on May 30, 1958, one unidentified member of the Armed Forces who died during World War II and one from the Korean war were interred in crypts at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; Whereas, on November 11, 1978, President Jimmy Carter dedicated a bronze plaque at Memorial Amphitheater to honor members of the Armed Forces who served in the Vietnam War; Whereas, on May 28, 1984, an unidentified member of the Armed Forces who died during the Vietnam War was interred in a crypt at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; Whereas the Vietnam Unknown was disinterred from the tomb in 1998, identified as United States Air Force 1st. Lt. Michael J. Blassie, and reburied in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, with the empty crypt subsequently capped with an engraved cover to honor all missing members of the Armed Forces from the Vietnam War; Whereas, since the creation of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, millions of visitors have come to Arlington National Cemetery to mourn and pay their respects to the Unknown Soldier and the military personnel he represents; and Whereas 100 years after the burial of the Unknown Soldier from World War I, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier continues to be a powerful symbol of service and sacrifice, mourning, and memory: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) recognizes the ultimate sacrifice of the Unknown Soldiers interred at Arlington Cemetery; (2) expresses gratitude and appreciation of all the members of the Armed Forces who have fought in the Nation’s wars and served during peacetime; and (3) commends all members of the 3d Infantry Regiment, and those specifically who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Summary: This resolution recognizes the ultimate sacrifice of the unknown soldiers interred at Arlington National Cemetery and expresses gratitude and appreciation of all the members of the Armed Forces who have served during wars and peacetime. Additionally, the resolution commends all members of the 3d Infantry Regiment, specifically those who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.