6 Things That Happen at Virginia’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Today, on Veterans Day

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Virginia received its first Unknown 105 years ago today.

On Veterans Day, the ceremony there follows a careful routine, and not everyone gets to see it in person.

Here’s what happens at Virginia’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier today.

1. Wreath-Laying Ceremony

For the national Veterans Day observance, the president, or the president’s designee, lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The cemetery calls these its most solemn ceremonies.

In 2022, the cemetery announced that the Army’s Military District of Washington would conduct the wreath-laying at 11 a.m., with the vice president laying the wreath and attendance limited to official participants.

Wreath-laying at the Tomb isn’t limited to presidents.

Honor Flight groups sometimes lay wreaths at the Tomb too.

The opportunity to take part in a wreath-laying ceremony is open to the general public, including school groups.

If you lead a group, you can request a ceremony through the cemetery.

2. Changing of the Guard

From October 1 through March 31, the guard changes on the hour, and a new Sentinel, as the Tomb’s guards are called, takes the post.

Between April 1 and September 30, the changes come every half hour.

You can watch during the cemetery’s posted hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A relief commander appears on the plaza to announce the changing of the guard.

Spectators are asked to stand and remain silent during the ceremony.

3. White-Glove Inspection

The relief commander begins the ceremony when the new Sentinel leaves the Tomb Guard quarters and unlocks the bolt of an M-14 rifle.

The relief commander then conducts a detailed white-glove inspection of the weapon, checking each part of the rifle once.

Next, the relief commander and the new Sentinel meet the retiring Sentinel at the center of the black mat.

All three salute the Unknown Soldiers, who have symbolically been given the Medal of Honor.

4. 21 Steps, 21 Seconds

Every number in a Tomb Sentinel’s walk is 21.

The Sentinel marches 21 steps down the black mat, faces east for 21 seconds, turns to face north for 21 seconds, and takes 21 more steps down the mat.

The number refers to the 21-gun salute, which the cemetery describes as the highest symbolic military honor.

5. Shoulder-Arms Movement

A shoulder-arms movement at the Tomb comes next, with the Sentinel placing the rifle on the shoulder nearest visitors.

The cemetery says the move signifies that the Sentinel stands between the Tomb and any possible threat.

The guard may speak only under exceptional circumstances.

If a crowd gets rowdy or noisy, the guard will step off the mat before asking for silence and respect.

6. Round-the-Clock Watch

Soldiers have guarded the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 24 hours a day since 1937.

Sentinels stand watch 365 days a year, in any weather.

That includes tonight.

Before 1937, guards were there only during daylight hours, starting in March 1926.

Since April 6, 1948, the post has belonged to soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard.

Those soldiers volunteer, then go through a strict selection process and intensive training.

National Observance

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier wreath-laying is one part of a larger national observance at the cemetery.

In 2025, the observance was the 72nd annual one, and it began at 11 a.m. in the Memorial Amphitheater.

The program was free and open to the public, though attendance at the Tomb wreath-laying itself was limited to official participants.

Seating was first come, first served, and the program included a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations and remarks from dignitaries.

That year, attendees had to ride a tram from the Welcome Center because walking to and from the amphitheater was strictly prohibited.

Umbrellas and large bags were on the prohibited list, and attendees had to pass through a security checkpoint.

The cemetery says about 5,000 visitors attend each of its three major memorial services in the amphitheater, held on Easter, Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Tomb Guard Badge

Soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier can earn the Tomb Guard Identification Badge.

Candidates memorize seven pages of Arlington National Cemetery history during a two-week trial and must pass several tests to earn the badge.

As of December 2021, the Library of Congress counted 688 Sentinels who had earned it, calling it the third least-awarded qualification badge of the U.S. Army.

In 1961, Specialist 4th Class Fred Moore became the first Black soldier to earn the badge, and in 1996, Sgt. Heather Lynn Johnsen became the first woman, according to the Army’s Tomb history page.

1921 Burial

You can add one more date to your Veterans Day: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier received its first Unknown 105 years ago today.

That Unknown was a World War I service member, chosen in France on October 24, 1921.

A sergeant named Edward F. Younger made the choice, placing a spray of white roses on one of four caskets.

On November 10, the Unknown lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda, where about 90,000 visitors paid their respects.

Then a horse-drawn caisson carried the Unknown to Arlington.

That was November 11, 1921.