Memorial Day

Below is the e-mail that circulated at one point about the guards of the Tomb of the Unkown at Arlington National Cemetary. After some research, I have found that most of this is true. However, there are some facts that are not completely truthful. See the link below for a better explaination of the requirements of the guards.

Happy Memorial Day!

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWNS

1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why?
21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.

2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his return walk and why?
21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1.

3. Why are his gloves wet?
His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.

4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time, and if not, why not?
He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb After his march across the path, he executes an about face, and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.

5. How often are the guards changed?
Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.

6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?
For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be between 5? 10? and 6? 2? tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30?.

Other requirements of the Guard:

They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb in any way.

After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin.

The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt. There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror.

The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred. Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe E. Lewis {the boxer} and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, {the most decorated soldier of WWII} of Hollywood fame. Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.

http://www.tombguard.org/FAQ.html#Why%20are%20his%20gloves%20wet?

Now Accepting Donations

We are now accepting donations to go towards dental work for this jersey cow. She has an overbite preventing her from obtaining an acceptable appearance. She is mocked and shunned by other jersey cows in the herd.

This is way to funny. I laughed so hard I was nearly crying when I saw this poor cow.

Derek's Graduation from OCC

Mom, Derek, and Dad

Michelle (wearing some serious high heels!) and Derek

Totally Random

**Today is a really crappy day. It has rained non-stop since I got up this morning...and I am sure way before I got up. (See the next blurp.) The lights keep flashing. I probably shouldn't be on the computer.

**I was up with August until about 12:30 and then watched her from bed for a while longer. I came home from work and the little girl was asleep in Travis' arms (way sweet by the way)...and she was HOT! That doesn't even describe it. Her temp was over 103! She let me put a cold washcloth on the back of her neck and face. I finally got her cooled down a bit. Then I was so scared about her sleeping by herself, I moved her bed into our bedroom so she could sleep with me. I didn't think her in our bed would be the best idea.

**I am having the worst coffee in the world...didn't feel like making my own so I got some at the gas station. Note to self: never buy coffee there again!

**There is a pot sitting on my toilet filling with water...from the ceiling. Yep, its leaking. Glad this isn't really our house. I think that would be an expensive fix. Makes it hard to pee. I get all wet. Why don't I just let the water fall into the toilet, you ask? Because it splashes, and I don't want toilet water on my floor.

**Whatever It Is by Zac Brown Band is my new favorite song.

**I start my last semester at SMWC tomorrow! AHHH! The end is finally near! I student teach in the fall. I think they have confirmed my placements but I don't know where yet. Maybe I'll find out tomorrow.

**My brother is graduating from OCC on Friday. The kid really has alot going for him. He has receiving sooo many scholarships to Carbondale. I am really happy for him.

Berryville Vinyards

So this is my new favorite place in the world...minus home with my kid. Okay, so maybe its my new favorite adult place to go. Amy, her cousin Rachel, and I went there on Saturday. They have a wine tasting every Saturday. It was way cute out there. You walk over a little bridge to a small building to taste any and all of the selections they have available that day. Then you can go and look at where he actually makes the wine and buy whatever you want. See http://www.berryvillevinyards.com/. They have some pretty cool pictures. Also see http://rylanamyrusk.blogspot.com/ for a picture of the three of us and http://amy-n-erin.blogspot.com/ for some cool pics that Amy took.

OH! Exciting news! My brother is engaged! He proposed to Michelle about a week ago. I am sooo happy for them. When Travis and I got engaged, his sister told me she was excited becuase she never had a sister. I told Michelle the same. Welcome to the family!

August and my dad next to the tree they planted for her.

August and her boys...Donkey and Pa.

Daddy of the Year

My husband definitely wins Daddy of the Year. We went to Effingham this evening to look at a farm and on the way back we couldn't figure out why August was crying. She just kept saying, "Mommy I crying." And I kept saying, "Honey I know but why." Travis finally picked up her Dora doll and put it on the steering wheel like she was driving. August laughed so hard. Dora talked and blew kisses until August finally wanted to play with her. He really suprizes me sometimes the way he acts with her. I never would have thought to put Dora on the steering wheel. I guess I'm the logical one and he is the fun one! That's fine with me, though. I love to see the two of them together.

Crying Kid

So after a very long 30 minutes, I finally got August to go to bed. She stayed with Dennis and Linda this weekend and they brought her back this evening. We brought everything inside and she DEMANDED to sit in her stroller. I asked if she wanted to put her pajamas on and she cried saying, "no jam on, no jam on!" OMG! That was a first. The only way I could get her out of the stroller safely was to tell her we were going on a walk...which we then had to do. She did not let me forget that I had told her that.

After our walk around the farm, the only way to get her inside was by telling her that we had to put our lilacs we had just picked in water. Then it was sooooo tragic when I asked her if she wanted a drink before bed. Crying again, "I wan milk!" OK, whatever. I figure she is just tired. The rest of the conversation gets worse.

Me: Do you want to go to bed, August?
Aug: No bed. I no bed. (Still crying.)
Me: Your teddy bear is in bed.
Aug: Bear in bed. U-stairs. (She says and points up.)

So we went up and she went to bed...without crying.