The Gospel Significance of The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The Gospel Significance of The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

On this Memorial Day Weekend, let’s look at the soldier who guards the tomb of the unknown soldier and ask can we see any gospel significance in it? Every year we will go to lay flowers on my wife’s father’s grave which is just several 100 yards away from the tomb of the unknown solder. We will stand in amazement as we watch these men and women, with masterful precision, grace, strength and passion continue a mission that began in 1930.

The guard takes 21 steps during his walk across the tomb of The Unknowns, but do you know why? It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary. The Soldier hesitates 21 seconds after his about face to begin his return walk, again to show the highest honor given. His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle. He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb at all times. After his march across the path, he executes an about face and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder. From here the depth and significance only gets deeper and we begin to understand what is required of the one who guards this crypt of those only God knows.

One of my favorite moments on Arlington is to watch the changing of the Guards. The guards are changed every thirty minutes, not 22, not 15, always exactly thirty minutes. This occurs twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year. Every time I have watched this, there is always complete silence as you can hear every breath. You can hear the movement of the cloth uniforms and the crack of the rifles. You can see a focus in their eyes. It has be rehearsed so there is no error.  It has become second nature for them as they literally live and breathe this calling. They look as if they were made for nothing else but this post.

Watching this display causes one to consider the physical traits of every guard. Why do they look like they were made for this post? Why does each one seem to be a mirror the other as they guard. 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 theGuard: 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, 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. This causes me to ask, why the church is filled with so many who don’t take on the characteristics of Christ when we are called to mirror Christ in all that we do? We are called to mirror Jesus to be His light, day and night.

Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty. 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. It is not a calling that is done in obscurity. It is done before hundreds and thousands daily, every day, all day, much the same as our witness is to be as Christians. There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform of those who guard this tomb. That would be unthinkable to soil the uniform of the one who guards the one who’s body was soiled in blood for our freedom. The Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror so nothing is missed, absolutely nothing. So nothing is mixed it requires months and years of preparation.

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. Just pause and ask yourself the question how much time do you spend studying notable people in the Bible, memorizing Scripture, praying, fasting? How much of your free time is spent worshiping our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In this  age of noise and instant media gratification a vow of silence for a minutes seems unthinkable, but for six months? This is concentration. This is commitment.

I remember in 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington , DC because winds took off half the siding on my home. Due to the storm he US Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC evening news, it was reported that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment. They respectfully declined the offer, ‘No way, Sir!’ Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that Guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a serviceperson. The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930. 

You and I, this country and God’s Church are in a spiritual Hurricane of biblical proportions. We have been given the highest honor of serving Christ and leading His church. The tomb we have is empty reminding us that Jesus is alive. We serve a risen savior who gave His life for you and I. Without the right soldiers, without high expectations and high intentionality, without a commitment and passion to service and the task we are called to, we will have people listening to culture tell them it is ok to suspend our service, our witness, our walk, our prayers, our fasting, our faithfulness, our Bible reading, our devotions, our church services, our tithing, our trust in each other, our commitment, our communication with each other. Christ and His Church need the right people leading, guarding and serving in His church, setting an example and fighting for His kingdom more than ever. Will you? Let this day remind you of not only the fallen who have sacrificed so much for this country, but of a savior who has sacrificed for your eternal freedom also.