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HONORING THE BRAVERY OF ARLINGTON CEMETERY SOLDIERS DURING HURRICANE ISABEL
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| September 29th, 2003 |
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Mr. Speaker, as Hurricane Isabel’s winds swept over Arlington National Cemetery, the soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknowns were given - for the first time in history - permission to abandon their posts and seek shelter.
But that wasn’t what was going to happen, and Sergeant Christopher Holmes knew it. He and other valiant members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment stood vigil on overnight duty.
"That's never an option for us. It went in one ear and right out the other," Holmes said.
The monument was established in 1921 with the interment of an unknown World
War I soldier, and a sentry has been posted there continuously since 1930. Cemetery Superintendent John Metzler didn’t want to put the guards in jeopardy unnecessarily with the fierce storm bearing down Thursday night, so cemetery officials decided to let the guards move indoors if they felt they were in danger.
Holmes' group was on duty for 24 hours, from 6 a.m. Thursday until 6 a.m.
Friday. They took turns patrolling the tomb in hourly shifts.
Mr. Speaker, I commend these brave men and women, who do whatever they must to guard the Unknowns. They cherish their post, and consider it the greatest honor to go out there and guard this symbol of every man and woman who has fought and died for this great nation. Their patriotism is admired by all Americans.
Thank you.
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There are no Floor Speechess to be displayed for this month.
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