In the face of a huge storm and massive wind gusts, a single U.S. soldier could be seen recently continuing to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
According to Fox Weather, the Tomb’s guards faced hurricane-force winds on Saturday, July 29. Fox’s Forecast Center indicated that the huge storm that reportedly uprooted trees and caused damage throughout the Washington, D.C. region was most likely the result of a downburst.
The National Weather Service reported the storms on July 29 included wind gusts of over 80 mph, lighting and torrential rain. A wind gust of 59 mph was reported from a weather station located near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Despite the severe weather, video footage from the major storm shows a U.S. soldier marching back and forth in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
According to Fox News, U.S. service members from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as “The Old Guard,” are responsible for guarding the Tomb of the Unknown soldier every single day of the year, regardless of the weather conditions.
In January of 2022, the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment was also praised for continuing to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the midst of a rare blizzard.
READ MORE: New photos show Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guards in rare blizzard
The Old Guard has maintained an uninterrupted watch over the monument for more than 84 years, and as the first snowfall of 2022 hit the Washington D.C. area, it served to highlight the unit’s dedication to its duty.
The Unknown Soldier, an unidentified U.S. serviceman who fought and died in World War I, was returned to the U.S. from France and interred in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia on Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1921.
