The Washington times., 1925-11-20
HARDING I D NJ B
STILL UNDER
GUARD
Discipline Now Relaxed to
Extent That Soldiers
/ Talk to Visitors
D. international News Service

MARION, Ohio, Nov. 17.-Guard'
ing the tomb of President and Mrs.
Warren G.. Harding in Marion
Cemetery may appear to be an
easy task to the casual visitor, but
TO the men on guard 1t is q duty
fraught with many trying circum-
stances.
Members Of the Tenth Infantry
Guard Detachment and their COM
mander, Lieutenant Walter Lee
Sherfrey, find pleasure and e. GER
tain compensation In the WORK,
however. Above all 1t is signal
honor to them as individuals. and
To the regiment to be stationed as
honorary guard at the last resting
place Of their late chief
Then, too, they are meeting
thousands Of persons every week,
rubbing shoulders with prominent
men and women from ali over the
world: Theirs is an important as
Hignment.
A Day with the Guard
Every one in Marion knows that
the soldiers stand watch over the
ritv's Industrious dead. Many people
have personal friends in the de-
Iachment. Few, however, know just
what the soldiers duties are.
al day with the honor guard
might not be uninteresting,
Al 6 o'clock in the morning the
trooDers are aroused by q blast
ne the first sergeant's whistle
Thev have an hour IN which to
make beds, sweep out the quarters,
ret ready for breakfast. Police
an" the soldiers say.
Drill periods are held each morn
ing. If the weather is good. the
drilling Is held outdoors with rifles.
On stormy days calesthenics and
1oiley-ball in the gymnasium ae
the 'sY', Is the order.
Two men comprise each relief
On duty at the tomb. When there
are visitors at or near the vault
these men stand IN the formal nal po e
persons about, they are permitted
to walk up and down, before the
tomb. During the months OK good
weather, 1t is seldom that there are
No visitors. Then standing motion
less for two hours becomes g task
that no civilian and only q well
trained soldier could perform.
Guards May Talk
Unlike q guard on a military
reservation. the sentries at the
tomb Of President Harding are per-
United to talk with tourists and
other visitors. This breach Of mill
tary discipline is necessary, as all
who come to view the tomb have
questions that they ask. 1nforn1a-
lion must be given clearly, politely
and briefly.
After two hours on post. the SEN
tries are relieved Tor four hours,
when they are again posted. Dur
ing the time they are off. they may
sleep, or just sit around. They are.
hof permitted to leave the vicinity
Df the little guard house during the
twenty-four hours they are on duty.
From $50 p. m. until 6 a. m.
there are no visitors at the tomb,
but through the night the guard is
constantly kept. In the stiffness
bf the cemetery no sound falls save
maybe the screaming of boot
DwI, the honking Of q goose, or
the crying OF some bird disturbed
from slumber by q hunting enemy.
In these hours sentries on duty
walk and walk.
For two years the guard has
been maintained at President Hard
mg's tomb. Things happen every
lay that change the scheme Of In.
afyidual lives; but, until the order
that relieves this Honor Guard Is
received, the soldiers will continue
their walk. II that order Is 100
years in coming, it win yet find
bentries on post.
In the army. 1.-THE show has got
70 go on"