Tomb Of The Unknowns
Oct 29, 2005 23:40:28 GMT -6
Post by Moderator on Oct 29, 2005 23:40:28 GMT -6
The Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery is also known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The Tomb as you see it today, was designed by Lorimer Rich and sculpted by Thomas H. Jones. The overall cost to construct the sarcophagus, entirely out of White Yule Marble from Colorado, was $48,000. It took over a year to complete, and was unveiled on 9 April 1931.
The Tomb is broken into different parts, each weighing in at very heavy weights. The entire Tomb, minus the crypts, weighs 79 tons, and has 7 pieces:
On the North and South faces of the Tomb, you can see a total of 6 inverted wreaths. Each of these wreaths have a certain number of leaves and berries, and if you ask a Tomb Guard he will rattle off the numbers. The wreaths are inverted to represent mourning, as well as the six major battle campaigns of World War I:
On the East face of the Tomb you will find three figures, carved into the marble. This is the face most visitors to the Tomb do not see. The three figures, from left to right, represent Peace, Victory and Valor.
As with any large marble memorial, eventually flaws will develop as the marble settles. After the 12 ton cap was put in place a natural crack developed around the entire Tomb, about 3 feet off the base. On one wreath, the tip of a leaf was broken off.
On the West face of the Tomb, which in on the plaza and faces the Memorial Amphitheater, there is an inscription:
Here Rests In Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God
--------------------------------------------------------------
More information is available at these websites ...
Society of the Honor Guard - Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
www.tombguard.org/site.html
The Tomb of the Unknowns - Arlington National Cemetery
www.arlingtoncemetery.net/tombofun.htm
The Tomb as you see it today, was designed by Lorimer Rich and sculpted by Thomas H. Jones. The overall cost to construct the sarcophagus, entirely out of White Yule Marble from Colorado, was $48,000. It took over a year to complete, and was unveiled on 9 April 1931.
The Tomb is broken into different parts, each weighing in at very heavy weights. The entire Tomb, minus the crypts, weighs 79 tons, and has 7 pieces:
On the North and South faces of the Tomb, you can see a total of 6 inverted wreaths. Each of these wreaths have a certain number of leaves and berries, and if you ask a Tomb Guard he will rattle off the numbers. The wreaths are inverted to represent mourning, as well as the six major battle campaigns of World War I:
On the East face of the Tomb you will find three figures, carved into the marble. This is the face most visitors to the Tomb do not see. The three figures, from left to right, represent Peace, Victory and Valor.
As with any large marble memorial, eventually flaws will develop as the marble settles. After the 12 ton cap was put in place a natural crack developed around the entire Tomb, about 3 feet off the base. On one wreath, the tip of a leaf was broken off.
On the West face of the Tomb, which in on the plaza and faces the Memorial Amphitheater, there is an inscription:
Here Rests In Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God
--------------------------------------------------------------
More information is available at these websites ...
Society of the Honor Guard - Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
www.tombguard.org/site.html
The Tomb of the Unknowns - Arlington National Cemetery
www.arlingtoncemetery.net/tombofun.htm