Tomb of the Unknowns The Tomb of the Unknowns is a monument dedicated to American service members who have died without their remains being identified . It is also known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier ; it has never been officially named . It is located in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia , United States of America . The World War I " Unknown " is a recipient of the Medal of Honor , the Victoria Cross , and several other foreign nations ' highest service awards . The U . S . Unknowns who were interred are also recipients of the Medal of Honor , presented by the U . S . presidents who presided over their funerals . Tomb of 1921 . On March 4 , 1921 , the United States Congress approved the burial of an unidentified American serviceman from World War I in the plaza of the new Memorial Amphitheater . On November 11 , 1921 , the unknown soldier brought back from France was interred inside a three - level marble tomb . The marble came from a Yule Marble Quarry located near Marble , Colorado . The marble for the Lincoln Memorial and other famous monuments was quarried there . The bottom two levels are six marble sections each and the top at least nine blocks with a rectangular opening in the center of each level through which the unknown remains were placed through the tomb and into the ground below . A stone other than marble covers the rectangular opening . Tomb of 1931 . Since 1921 the intent was to place a superstructure on top of the Tomb , but it was not until July 3 , 1926 , that Congress authorized the completion of the Tomb and the expenditure of $ 50 , 000 ( with a completed cost of $ 48 , 000 ) . A design competition was held and won by architect Lorimer Rich and sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones . An appropriation from Congress for the work was secured and on December 21 , 1929 , a contract for completion of the Tomb itself was entered into . The Tomb would consist of seven pieces of marble in four levels ( cap , die , base and sub - base ) of which the die is the largest block with the sculpting on all four sides . In late January 1931 , the 56 ton die of Yule marble ( quarried 3 . 9 miles south of Marble , Colorado by the Vermont Marble Company ) was lifted out of the quarry . ( Only the die block is addressed for no data is available as to the other three levels ) . The quarrying involved 75 men working one year . When the block was separated from the mountain inside the quarry it weighed 124 tons . A wire saw was then brought into the quarry to cut the block down to 56 tons . On February 3 , the block reached the marble mill site ( in the town of Marble ) where it was crated , then shipped to Vermont on February 8 . The block was sawn to final size in West Rutland , Vermont and fabricated by craftsmen in Proctor , Vermont before it was shipped by train to Arlington National Cemetery , Virginia where it was carved by the Piccirilli Brothers under the direction of the sculptor Thomas Jones . ( The brothers also carved the Lincoln statue for the Lincoln Memorial ) . The Tomb was dedicated in April 1932 . The Tomb was placed at the head of the grave of the World War I Unknown . West of this grave are the crypts of Unknowns from World War II ( south ) and Korea ( north ) . Between the two lies a crypt that once contained an Unknown from Vietnam ( middle ) . His remains were positively identified in 1998 through DNA testing as First Lieutenant Michael Blassie , United States Air Force and were removed . Those three graves are marked with white marble slabs flush with the plaza . The Tomb has a flat - faced form and is relieved at the corners and along the sides by neo - classical pilaster s set into the surface with objects and inscription carved into the sides . The 1931 symbolism of the objects on the north , south and east sides changed over time . Tomb Dimensions as of 2004 ( xxx ) * 1931 die block dimension coming out of the quarry . The Unknown of World War I . On Memorial Day , 1921 , four unknown servicemen were exhumed from four World War I American cemeteries in France . U . S . Army Sgt . Edward F . Younger , who was wounded in combat , highly decorated for valor and received the Distinguished Service Cross in " The Great War " selected the Unknown of World War I from four identical caskets at the city hall in Châlons - en - Champagne , France , on October 24 , 1921 . Younger selected the World War I Unknown by placing a spray of white roses on one of the caskets . He chose the third casket from the left . The chosen Unknown was transported to the United States aboard the . Those remaining were interred in the Meuse Argonne Cemetery , France . The World War I Unknown lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda from his arrival in the United States until Armistice Day , 1921 . On November 11 , 1921 , President Warren G . Harding officiated at the interment ceremonies at the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery . During the ceremony , the World War I Unknown was awarded the Victoria Cross by Admiral of the Fleet Lord Beatty , on behalf of King George V of the United Kingdom . ( The United Kingdom Victoria Cross was placed with the soldier . Earlier , on March 4 , 1921 , the British Unknown Warrior was conferred the U . S . Medal of Honor by General of the Armies John Pershing . ) In 1928 , the Unknown Soldier was presented the Silver Buffalo Award for distinguished service to America ' s youth by the Boy Scouts of America . The Unknowns of World War II and Korea . On August 3 , 1956 , President Dwight D . Eisenhower signed a bill to select and pay tribute to the Unknowns of World War II and the Korean War . The selection ceremonies and the interment of these Unknowns took place in 1958 . The World War II Unknown was selected from remains exhumed from cemeteries in Europe , Africa , Hawaii , and the Philippines . Two Unknowns from World War II , one from the European Theater and one from the Pacific Theater , were placed in identical caskets and taken aboard the , a guided - missile cruiser resting off the Virginia Capes . Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class William R . Charette , then the U . S . Navy ' s only active - duty Medal of Honor recipient , selected the World War II Unknown . The remaining casket received a solemn burial at sea . Four unknown Americans who died in the Korean War were disinterred from the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii . Army Master Sergeant Ned Lyle made the final selection . Both caskets arrived in Washington on May 28 , 1958 , where they lay in the Capitol Rotunda until the morning of May 30 , when they were carried on caissons to Arlington National Cemetery . President Eisenhower awarded each the Medal of Honor , and the Unknowns of World War II and the Korean War were interred in the plaza beside their World War I comrade . The Unknown of Vietnam . The designation of the Vietnam Unknown has proven to be difficult . With improvements in DNA testing it is possible , though unlikely , that the recovered remains for every unknown soldier killed in the Vietnam War will be identified . The Vietnam Unknown service member was designated by Medal of Honor recipient U . S . Marine Corps Sgt . Maj . Allan Jay Kellogg , Jr . , during a ceremony at Pearl Harbor , Hawaii , May 17 , 1984 . The Vietnam Unknown was transported aboard the guided missile frigate ( FF - 1086 ) to Naval Air Station Alameda , California . The remains were then sent to Travis Air Force Base , California , May 24 . The Vietnam Unknown arrived at Andrews Air Force Base , Maryland , the next day . Many Vietnam veterans and President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan visited the Vietnam Unknown in the U . S . Capitol . An Army caisson carried the Vietnam Unknown from the Capitol to the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day , May 28 , 1984 . President Reagan presided over the funeral , and presented the Medal of Honor to the Vietnam Unknown , and also acted as next of kin by accepting the interment flag at the end of the ceremony . The interment flags of all Unknowns at the Tomb of the Unknowns are on view in the Memorial Display Room . Identification of the Unknown . In 1994 , Ted Sampley , a POW / MIA activist , determined that the remains of the Vietnam Unknown were likely those of Air Force 1st Lt . Michael Joseph Blassie , who was shot down near An Lộc , Vietnam , in 1972 . Sampley published an article in his newsletter and contacted Blassie ' s family , who attempted to pursue the case with the Air Force ' s casualty office without result . In January 1998 CBS News broadcast a report based on Sampley ' s investigation which brought political pressure to support the identification of the remains . The body was exhumed on May 14 , 1998 . Based on mitochondrial DNA testing , Department of Defense scientists confirmed the remains were those of Blassie . The identification was announced on June 30 , 1998 , and on July 10 , Blassie ' s remains arrived home to his family in St . Louis , Missouri ; he was reinterred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on July 11 . Redesignation of the crypt . The slab over the crypt that once held the remains of the Vietnam Unknown has since been replaced . The original inscription of " Vietnam " and the dates of the conflict has been changed 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 . Tomb Guards . The tomb guards are soldiers of the United States Army ' s 3rd Infantry Regiment . It is considered one of the highest honors to serve as a Sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknowns . Fewer than 20 percent of all volunteers are accepted for training and of those only a fraction pass training to become full - fledged Tomb Guards . This attrition rate has made the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Guard Identification Badge the second least - awarded decoration of the United States military ( the first being the Astronaut Badge ) . The soldier " walking the mat " does not wear rank insignia , so as not to outrank the Unknowns , whatever their ranks may have been . Non - commissioned officers ( usually the Relief Commander and Assistant Relief Commanders ) , do wear insignia of their rank when changing the guard only . They have a separate uniform ( without rank ) that is worn when they actually guard the Unknowns or are " Posted " . The duties of the sentinels are not purely ceremonial . The sentinels will confront people who cross the barriers at the tomb or who are disrespectful or loud . Weapons . Over the years there have been several different types of weapons used by the Tomb Guards . The changes in weapons reflect the changes in the Army , including M1903 Springfield rifle , M1 Garand and M14 rifles , M1911 . 45 ACP and M9 9mm Beretta pistols . Tomb Guards currently carry M14 rifles , which are unloaded and affixed to ceremonial rifle stocks ( hand - made by Tomb Guards ) . These rifles are cleaned daily and kept ready for use at all times . Walking the mat . There is a meticulous routine which the guard follows when watching over the graves . The Tomb Guard : After each turn , the Guard executes a sharp " shoulder - arms " movement to place the weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors to signify that the Guard stands between the Tomb and any possible threat . Twenty - one was chosen because it symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed — the 21 - gun salute . The mat is usually replaced twice per year : before Memorial Day and before Veterans Day . This is required because of the wear on the rubber mat by the special shoes worn by Tomb Guards . The sentinels have metal plates built into the soles and inner parts of their shoes to allow for a more rugged sole and to give the signature click of the heel during maneuvers . The sentinels wear sunglasses because of the bright reflection from the marble surrounding the Tomb and the Memorial Amphitheater . On the ground not covered by the mat , a wear pattern in the tile can be seen that corresponds to the precise steps taken during the changing of the guard . On the mat itself , footprints worn in by standing guard are also visible . Changing of the Guard . During the day in summer months from April 1 to September 30 , the guard is changed every half hour . During the winter months , from October 1 to March 31 , the guard is changed every hour . After the cemetery closes to the public ( 7 p . m . to 8 a . m . April through September , and 5 p . m . to 8 a . m . October through March ) , the guard is changed every 2 hours . The ceremony can be witnessed by the public whenever Arlington National Cemetery is open . The guard change is very symbolic , but also conducted in accordance with Army regulations . The relief commander or assistant relief commander , along with the oncoming guard , are both required for a guard change to take place . The guard being relieved will say to the oncoming guard , " Post and orders remain as directed . " The oncoming guard ' s response is always , " Orders acknowledged . " Dedication . A civilian guard was first posted at the Tomb on November 17 , 1925 , to prevent , among other things , families from picnicking on the flat marble slab with views of the city . A military guard was first posted on March 25 , 1926 . The first 24 - hour guard was posted on midnight , July 2 , 1937 . The Tomb of the Unknowns has been guarded continuously , 24 hours a day , 7 days a week , since that time . Inclement weather , terrorist attacks , et cetera , do not cause the watch to cease . Since 1948 , the Tomb Guards , a special platoon within the 3rd U . S . Infantry Regiment ( The Old Guard ) work on a team rotation of 24 hours on , 24 hours off , for five days , taking the following four days off . A guard takes an average of six hours to prepare his uniform – heavy wool , regardless of the time of year – for the next day ' s work . In addition to preparing the uniform , guards also conduct physical training , Tomb Guard training , participate in field exercises , cut their hair before the next work day , and at times are involved in regimental functions as well . Tomb Guards are required to memorize 16 pages of information about Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier , including the locations of nearly 300 graves and who is buried in each one . A special Army decoration , the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Guard Identification Badge is authorized for wear after passing a detailed test of 100 questions ( from a pool of more than 300 ) , a uniform test with two gigs ( errors ) or fewer ( measured to the 1 / 64 " ) , and a test on the guard changing sequence . After serving honorably for a period of nine months , and having passed the sequence of tests , a Tomb Guard is permanently awarded the Badge . Since the first award on February 7 , 1958 , fewer than 700 soldiers have completed training and been awarded this Badge , including three women . A small number of Tomb Guard Identification Badges have also been retroactively awarded to soldiers who served as Guards before 1959 . Those numbers make the Badge the second rarest award currently issued in the United States Army ; only the Army Astronaut Badge is rarer . The badge was designed in 1956 and first issued to members of the Honor Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns on February 7 , 1958 . The badge was first issued only as a temporary wear item , meaning the soldiers could only wear the badge during their tenure as members of the Honor Guard . Upon leaving the duty , the badge was returned and reissued to incoming soldiers . In 1963 , a regulation was enacted that allowed the badge to be worn as a permanent part of the military uniform , even after the soldier ' s completion of duty at the Tomb of the Unknowns . Damage and repair to the Tomb Monument . Cracking and erosion are causing concerns for the long - term preservation of the Tomb Monument . A November 1963 report first recorded horizontal cracking of the monument ' s marble die block . Though this was the first time that the damage was documented , the report made it clear that the cracks had become visible some time before that date . In 1963 – 1964 , there were two cracks — referred to as " primary " and " secondary " — extending approximately 34 feet around the die block . By 1974 , they had extended to 40 feet . They grew another 4 . 6 feet over the next 15 years . Inspection has determined that the cracks have increased horizontally since 1990 . Analysis also indicates that the cracks are not surficial but extend partially through the block and will eventually extend all the way through . The 1990 report documented deterioration of the marble ' s surface . As much as 2 . 85 mm of the marble surface has been lost through weathering . The study projected that before 2010 , the Tomb Monument will have been eroded enough to have a negative effect on the experience of the visitors and concludes the only solutions are to enclose or replace the monument . Several options have been considered to deal with the damage . Officials at Arlington National Cemetery determined that proper repair can return the Tomb Monument to an acceptable appearance . However , because the cracks will continue to lengthen and widen , continuous grouting , regrouting , touch - up , monitoring , and maintenance would be required . Therefore , a report commissioned by Arlington National Cemetery and published in June 2006 confirmed the Cemetery ' s conclusion that " replacement of the three pieces of the Tomb Monument is the preferred alternative " . A final decision was scheduled to be made on September 30 , 2007 . The National Trust for Historic Preservation objects to the plan to replace the authentic Tomb Monument . The Trust expressed concern that Arlington National Cemetery seeks to replace the existing monument with marble from the original quarry , which experts agree is likely eventually to crack . The Trust has observed that the Cemetery ' s own 1990 report recommended that the monument be repaired and that the Cemetery , in fact , commissioned Oehrlein Architects to repair the stone . In 2007 , Mary Oehrlein informed Congressional staff members that : " The existing monument can easily be repaired , as was done 17 years ago , using conventional conservation methods to re - grout the cracks . Once repaired , the fault lines would be virtually invisible from the public viewing areas . " On September 26 , 2007 , U . S . Senator Daniel Akaka announced that an amendment crafted together with Senator Jim Webb will be added to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 ( H . R . 1585 ) that would require a report on the plans of the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to replace the monument at the Tomb of the Unknowns . The secretaries would be required to advise Congress on the current efforts to maintain and preserve the monument . Additionally , they would have to provide an assessment on the feasibility and advisability of repairing rather than replacing the Tomb Monument . Finally , if the secretaries choose replacement , they would have to report those plans and detail how they intend to dispose of the current monument . Once the report is provided , the secretaries are prevented from taking action to replace the monument for at least 180 days . The Akaka - Webb amendment was included in the bill by unanimous consent of the Senate . An amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization Bill authorized a review of the monument ' s condition . The bill also authorized repair , but not replacement , of the monument . Final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2008 ( H . R . 4986 ) was signed by President Bush on January 28 , 2008 . In 2003 , retired Glenwood Springs , Colorado , car dealer John Haines donated a large slab of marble to the Arlington National Cemetery to replace the existing marble . Haines paid $ 31 , 000 for the marble slab . The block though was not removed from the quarry because imperfections were found and was rejected . The heart of the block was used for a statue of President George H . W . Bush . In 2005 , a flawless replacement was quarried and brought down to the area where quarried blocks are kept awaiting transport to the customer . However , the marble has sat unused . " It ' s not doable . A citizen can ' t just give us any piece of marble and say , ' This is what we ' ll use to replace the tomb ' " , said Thurman Higginbotham , deputy superintendent of Arlington . Haines ' s marble was cut from the same Yule Quarry where the original gold - veined marble for the Tomb of the Unknowns was mined nearly 80 years ago . The tomb replacement piece was cut after a nearly five - year search for an unflawed piece that would look like the original . Arlington officials estimate the cost of replacing the tomb ' s marble at $ 2 . 2 million : $ 80 , 000 of that for seeking bids , $ 90 , 000 for buying and transporting the marble and the remainder for sculpting . Haines ' s donated marble includes free shipping that he arranged himself . In June 2009 Arlington National Cemetery and The Army Corps of Engineers announced that the monument was to be repaired , not replaced . In 2010 , the cracks were filled but the repairs lasted only a few months . As of June 2011 , the cemetery was struggling to repair the cracks in the monument , one of which measured 28 . 4 feet long , with another at 16 . 2 feet . In September 2011 , the cracks were filled again and an October 21 , 2011 , inspection by the Army Corps of Engineers and other experts pronounced the repairs a success . The Unknowns documentary . Two former soldiers , Neal Schrodetzki and Ethan Morse collaborated to film a documentary about the Old Guard and the Tomb of the Unknowns . They used a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds for the movie . The film is scheduled to begin showing in film festivals in 2014 .