Herbert E Cleveland, Sr., Jul 74 to Aug 75, Rest in Peace Brother, We Have the Watch
Herbert Eugene Cleveland, Sr., born November 27, 1953, of Kansas City, MO, was called home on December 17, 2019. Herb is preceded in death by his parents, Loren and Mary Cleveland. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Demetra H. Cleveland; children, Elithia H. Del Giorno (Brian), Herbert E. Cleveland, Jr. (Corinna), and Eric L. Cleveland; grandchildren, Philip H. Heil (father, Phillip S. Heil), Chessa M. Cleveland, and Hunter Beth Cleveland; great-grandchild, Isabella Sophia-Marie Cleveland;...
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Herbert E Cleveland, Sr., Jul 74 to Aug 75, Rest in Peace Brother, We Have the Watch
Posted February 9, 2020 in StoriesHerbert Eugene Cleveland, Sr., born November 27, 1953, of Kansas City, MO, was called home on December 17, 2019. Herb is preceded in death by his parents, Loren and Mary Cleveland. He is survived by...
John David Gira, Sep 1955 to Sep 1956, Rest in Peace Brother, We Have the Watch
Posted February 9, 2020 in Tomb Guards Never ForgetJohn David Gira, 86, of Harrisonburg, Va., passed away on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at home in the care of his loving family and an amazing nursing staff. He was born April 15, 1933 in Yonkers, NY...
Gary Broersma, Sep 71 to Feb 73, Rest in Peace Brother, We Have the Watch
Posted February 9, 2020 in Tomb Guards Never ForgetGary Broersma’s Celebration of Life at 600 Seminole Woods Blvd, Geneva, FL 32732-8718, United
The Society has lost its champion, I have lost my best friend...
Posted July 7, 2017 in Society Spotlightby Richard Azzaro (1963-65) "With heavy heart, I want to let you know that we lost a good soldier last night. He fought hard to the end.” With these words, a dutiful and loving son announced the...
Paying Our Respects...
Posted July 6, 2017 in Tomb Guards Never ForgetOn January 18, the Society took time to remember Congressman Hamilton Fish III who passed away on this date in 1991. Congressman Fish III was a veteran of World War I (Captain, 369th U.S. Infantry...
We Remember: William "Bill" Spates (TGIB #33)
Posted October 28, 2015 in Tomb Guards Never ForgetWilliam Richard Spates, Jr. was born September 8, 1939, in Washington, DC to a family with a long history of service to the United States. An avid history buff, he enlisted in the United States Army...
Five Years After... we remember SSG Adam Dickmyer
Posted October 28, 2015 in Tomb Guards Never ForgetAdam L. Dickmyer was born on February 2, 1984 in York, Pennsylvania. He attended Mineral Springs Elementary and Middle Schools before graduating from Carver High School in 2002, where he participated...
Remembering SGT Franklin...
Posted October 2, 2015 in Tomb Guards Never ForgetMarvin “Lyle” Franklin Jr. was born on July 15, 1945 in Oklahoma City, where he graduated from Putnam City High School in 1963. He was a member of the Ioway Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, the Putnam...
A Memorial Day poem: "Just A Common Soldier..."
Posted May 25, 2015 in Tomb Guards Never ForgetLarry Vaincourt's classic poem was first published in his 1987 Remembrance Day newspaper column. There are several incorrect versions of this poem circulating the web; below you'll find the original...
SHGTUS Reunion Highlights - 'Arlington Sons' Performance
Posted October 19, 2014 in Society SpotlightThere were many highlights from this past reunion. Perhaps the most unique was the performance of the musical piece, Arlington Sons, by David and Richard Pittsinger. David is a renowned Broadway star...
Gold Star Mothers: A Memorial Day Memory
Posted May 26, 2014 in Tomb Guards Never ForgetLucky enough to have been one of the few who guarded the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier I can share a few thoughts about this very special day. My early memories of Memorial Day prior to time spent in...
Remembering 9/11/2001
Posted September 11, 2013 in Special ReportToday is the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. As our nation commemorates this day, the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier remembers the innocent individuals who lost their...
A Moment of Personal Reflection - May 14, 1998
Posted May 14, 2013 in Tomb Guards Never ForgetToday marks the 15th anniversary of the disinterment of the Vietnam Unknown. It seems hard to believe that the middle crypt has been empty for that long. It now serves as a memorial to those that are...
Reflecting on the Vietnam Unknown
Posted April 4, 2013 in Tomb Guards Never ForgetThis is an abridged essay I wrote four years ago on Michael J. Blassie, the US Air Force lieutenant who would have been 65 years old today. 1LT Blassie was identified as the Vietnam Unknown in 1998....
Tomb Guards Never Forget… Adam Dickmyer
Posted October 28, 2012 in Tomb Guards Never ForgetToday marks the two-year anniversary of the loss of Adam Dickmyer. He was killed in action on this day in 2010, in the Kanda-har Province of Afghanistan, protecting our freedoms. Adam was a husband,...
Tomb Guards Never Forget: The Unknowns
Posted June 29, 2012 in Tomb Guards Never ForgetI cry when I hear the national anthem of the United States, The Star-Spangled Banner. The tears, a mixture of joy, pride and sadness. Joy for the fact that I live in a country where I am free to...
Tomb Guards Never Forget: William R. Charette
Posted May 23, 2012 in Tomb Guards Never ForgetIn March, a key member of the heritage of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient William “Doc” Charette died at his home in Lake Wales, Florida. He was 79. William...
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The Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (SHGTUS) is able to provide our programs, events, assistance, scholarships, and services due to the generosity of its members, organizations, and individuals. SHGTUS does not receive institutional funding. Note: The Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your contributions may be fully tax deductible.
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Did you know?
Do you guard in a blizzard or a bad thunderstorm?
YES, but the accomplishment of the mission and welfare of the Soldier is never put at risk. The Tomb Guards have contingencies that are ready to be executed if the weather conditions ever place the Soldiers at risk of injury or death (i.e. lightning, high winds, etc). This ensures that Sentinels can continue the mission while ensuring safety. It is the responsibility of the Chain of Command from the Sergeant of the Guard to the Regimental Commander to ensure mission accomplishment and soldier welfare at all times.
It was erroneously reported that during Hurricane Isabel, the Sentinels were ordered to abandon their posts for shelter and that they refused. No such order was ever given. All proper precautions were taken to ensure the safety of the Sentinels while accomplishing their mission. Risk assessments are constantly conducted by the Chain of Command during changing conditions to ensure that soldier welfare is maintained during mission accomplishment.
