The “Old Guard”
Everyone, including us, made a big deal about the sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers yesterday as they walked their post in the face of the hurricane “Sandy” while most of the nation’s capitol cowered in their homes. The ingrates at the Democratic Underground criticized them and the reason they walk that post. Well the “Old Guard”, the 3rd Infantry Regiment at Fort Meyers, VA wasn’t just guarding the Tombs yesterday. This is a picture of a firing detail at Arlington as they return from a funeral yesterday;
And a detail filling and loading sandbags to help turn back the rising storm tides;
And here’s a picture from the National Guard Facebook page which says that there are 7500 Guardsmen supporting relief efforts all along the Eastern seaboard;
So that quote about rough men doing their jobs so we can sleep soundly extends to things other than war.
Category: Military issues
Amen, Jonn. I first thought that the Old Guard was simply a small ceremonial unit but someone I know who was afilliated with the unit corrected me and explained it was far, far more. To him, and them, I am ever thankful.
It’s called honor, duty, integrity- things DU frequenters would know nothing of.
“People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand
ready to do violence on their behalf.”
I get chills from that quote. I even have that quote as my signature on my work email.
Because of my age, I’m seeing more of the Old Guard as they bury friends….and my Brother. Always note that many have combat medals, CIB’s etc. Always a moving ceremony.
I demand equal time. You need to post photographs of Code Pink filling sandbags and rescuing people.
It’s always moving.
Which makes Libya a real telling point. As civilians we have given up. The military clearly hasn’t. Some of those troops more then likely served 2-3 tours already and there they are in pictures doing more…while their own families most likely without homes, power, or other basic necessities.
In fact I think this proves that our soldiers have become more steely eyed. They want to fight; they want to defend.
We aren’t letting them.
I am humbled to have worn the uniform now more then ever.
I am ashamed to not be wearing it now.
I was there from 98-02.
CINCGUARD!
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers…..”
oh, wait, that’s the US Postal Service. So, going out in the weather to do your job isn’t abnormal, it’s what Americans do. And as for that National Guard, I remember them helping dig out after a flood in Texas. I am sure there are thousands of similar stories.
The simple truth is that God has blessed us through our people. Our forefathers provided for us a country with room for individual human decision-making and achievement, and then He poured out blessing upon blessing to us.
The radicals at DU understand that people who appreciate a man who can stand out in the rain to honor the dead aren’t likely to tolerate bad decisions from fake big shots who imagine themselves to be The Best and the Brightest. That’s why they need to tear down the young men in the pictures.
#7,
Cinc Guard here, too. 2004-2008. Did many a funeral in rain, snow, or other bad weather. It appears that they moved A Co to Myer, but I’m willing to bet those sandbags were placed on McNair. Every time we got a good storm Alpha would be trying to stem flooding.
I don’t recall ever having heard of them leaving their post despite hurricanes, blizzards and such. They haven’t, have they?
That’s some serious dedication.
Pictures like these are why the DUmmies are underground. Nature buries shit.
@9.
Heard that. Many caskets.
I was 3rd PLT, Black Sheep. They have reflagged the Regimental unit and it is confusing.
Same mission, though.
Fm2176 & Green Thumb: you guys are great at making every service look like that it is the only one you do that day – no sign of it as being “just a job”. The only very minor thing that got my attention at my Brother’s (Full Honors) was that the urn was in the back seat of the cemetery’s Pinto. A civilian drove to where the caisson was and took it out of the seat and handed to a Soldier. From that moment it was nothing but utmost dignity. I shrugged and thought it was yet another proof of if you want it done right, let the military do it. They could have least found a Humvee instead of Pinto.
Cinc Guard?
Thanks for what you did for my buddies and brother. A great, moving, send off.
#11 Love!! Nature buries shit. Amen. I wish nature would make them eat it, too.
@9.
All the Flag Officers live at McNair.
Gotta love free labor.
@14.
Please clarify.
Soldier On!
God bless our warriors. Without you we would not be. You are in our prayers, for your service and your courage. Thank you.
CinC Guard = colonial uniforms, Alpha is patterned after Washington’s Lifeguard.
3rd plt is still the Black Sheep, at least when I left four years ago. As for reflagging, I reported to Alpha 3rd US Infantry Regt, and served in Alpha 1/3 & later Alpha 4/3. Same company, just kept channing parent units. Also, I got there right as they were changing the company from four platoons to three.