South African Reacts: Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery | EMOTIONAL 

The Guard of the Unknown Soldiers has been on duty 24/7 365 for almost a century. In blistering DC heat. In Blizzard conditions. Even during at least one major hurricane. The Guard NEVER ceases its watch. Thanks for your reverence for our unknown combat dead.

I've watched this ceremony in person. It is quite moving. You can hear a pin drop.

The Tomb of the unknown soldier is a very small section of the Arlington National Cemetery. President Kennedy and family are buried in another part. Its huge! Over 400,000 US vets and eligible family are buried there. Worth a visit!

Note : Only the Sergeant of the Guard wears rank insignia. The guards do NOT. That is so that they never out rank the Unknowns from WWI, WWII, and Korea. There was a fourth unknown from Vietnam buried there, but he was later identified by DNA.

Yes, I've been there for the ceremony. My father took us when we lived in the area. It's very solemn, serious, and amazing. Thank you for reacting to this.

As a former Army attack helicopter pilot with combat experience, I really liked how you remained silent during the entire video. Thank you!

There is a video about how difficult it is to be picked for this duty. It shows what they go through prior to taking their place guarding the tomb. It is one of the highest honors to guard the tomb. There is another about the history behind the tomb. Both are very moving and worth seeing. I, myself, have been to Washington many, many times, both on business and pleasure, and i never get tired of any of the monuments and honors there. Standing and reading the words on the walls of Abraham Lincoln to the Viet Nam, Korean, and Ww2 memorals and the Washington monument. I did a great trip of the historical areas in Philadelphia and then down to Washington. It is only a 2-3 hr train ride between the 2.

The soldiers who guard the tomb are some of the youngest in the Army. The training they go through to be a tomb soldier is so intense. You should check out the program.

Sitting here at my computer I remained silent, it's called respect.

I've been to DC 3 times and I've made sure not only to visit the Arlington National Cemetery each time, but also to see this display of professionalism, respect and patriotism by these elite soldiers of the Old Guard; it never gets old. After the first visit, I read former 'sentinel' Tom Cotton's book: "Sacred Duty: A Soldier's Tour at Arlington National Cemetery" - he explains in detail what the few who have made tomb guard go through as well as the reasons and history of the tomb. It is no wonder the 'Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Identification Badge' is the second least-awarded badge in the US Army; second only to the Astronaut Badge. I couldn't put it down, reading the entire book in one sitting - a first for me! The Cemetery itself, however, is an awe inspiring sight and after three trips having spent a full day there each time, I still have yet to cover the entire grounds - it is huge. Arlington is by far, one of the most peaceful, quiet (except for the flights in and out of Reagan National) and most beautiful places I have ever seen in all of my 57 years.

Every time I go to visit the grave of my parents, I always make it a point to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and witness the changing of the guard.

Thank you for your such respect you gave thank you so much

I've been to Arlington National Cemetery. I watched the Guard ceremony, and visited the graves of John and Robert Kennedy. FYI, the clock chiming the hour is in the Netherlands Carillon which was a gift to the American People in gratitude for the American participation in the Liberation of the Netherlands during WWII.

Arlington National Cemetery is for ANY member of the American armed forces, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is inside the cemetery. The changing of the guard is amazing to watch in person

There is a really well done video here in youtube all about the guard, who they are, what they have to do to become a guard. In that video they show and talk about a time where the guard dropped his service weapon and the bayonet pierced his foot. He did not wince, he said nothing, he kept his composure even though blood was oozing from his shoe. These guys are beyond dedicated to the terrible responsibility placed upon them to protect with dignity and honor. Interesting fact, the tomb of the unknown from the Vietnam war is empty! The remains, after they were interred were later identified by DNA to be Michael Joseph Blassie. His remains were returned to his family and they buried him in a private plot in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Missouri.

The ceremony is, well, ceremonial. But the soldiers who qualify to guard are elite, among the best of the best. It's a real honor to be chosen, and they have to work very hard for the honor, and take it very seriously as well they should. I think there's a RU-vid video about that. Country singer Trace Adkins has a music video for his song "Arlington". It's a very sobering tribute for the fighting men laid to rest there. I highly recommend it. I'm gonna go now, and watch it again for the umpteenth time and shed a tear or ten out of sorrow and pride.

I've seen it twice and it is a humbling experience. You see the graves stretch as far as the eye can see. It's quite a sight🙏🏼👍🏼

You should check out how the tomb came into existence and how some of the entombed were chosen.

I get emotional, each time I see this. I wonder, if the mom of a missing soldier, from one of those wars, found a bit of comfort, thinking this could be her son. I hope so.

Please check out the USAF Honor Guard if you haven't already! MARVELOUS reaction!

As I understand it. 3/4 of the world's countries have a Tomb Of the Unknowns. Some just aren't called that, but it's the same thing.

Arlington Cemetry is the highest cemetery. There are regional cemeteries with simpler, which any veteran eligible. Most choose to be buried with family at home. There are corps of vet who come, march, do a gun salute. They take the flag that was draped on the coffin, and do the flag folding ceremony, and gift it to the closest relative.

I just saw the ceremony today. Very interesting and sad. Highly recommend seeing!! ❤

I went on the 4th of July some years back and they had a laying of the wreathe ceremony. It’s was so touching and beautiful.

I was honored to accompany my father on his Honor Flight to see his memorials in DC. We also got to witness the changing of the guards at the Tomb. I've seen the ceremony 2x. Once for a high school trip (from Houston) and then even more memorable and humbling as my father's Honor Flight guardian.

Thank you for showing such respect to our unknown soldiers. As a subscriber of yours, I would love to help you get over that 5,000 mark. Best if luck on your channel.

You should do a video on the Gaurd they explain the whole process of being assigned as a tomb gaurd to their uniform, which not one thread can be out of place. Pretty cool

Thank you 🙏 very impressive ☝️respect for the unknown ceremony ❤👏👏👏🙏🇺🇸👍🎥👋☮️

Thank you for your respect. I want to go and see that ceremony so much it hurts. Someday❤

A good program to see is the National Geographic Special "Arlington" about the history and how they do things there. But the most interesting part is how the tomb guard prepare to go out for their shift. It is so exacting that the uniform is absolutely perfect. There is a ton of work that goes on behind the scenes for every burial performed. It's well worth the watch.

Minor correction the whole cemetery is not all unknown soldiers. This monument is dedicated to those that have never been identified. In the large crypt is a soldier from WW1 and in front of it on the plaza floor are soldiers from WW2, Korea, and Vietnam

Those rifles are heavy.

Nice reaction. You should check out the short video when one of the guards gets stabbed in the foot with the bayonet. He barely flinches, or the video called, “Why you never mess with the guards of the Unknown Soldier”.

Depending on other events taking place at the time, the entirety of the ceremony can be conducted without a single verbal command. Only the Commander of the Relief's instructions to the audience are spoken aloud.

Great reaction!

It is the tomb of the unknown soldier. Part of the larger cemetery

Now young fella, you should react to the Military Drill teams from each branch.

I read that once a guard lost control of his rifle during the ceremony and the bayonet ran into his foot .. and he continued as if nothing happened.

great react

Whenever I'm at Arlington visiting my Granddad, I try to nip over and watch the changing of the guard.

I’ve seen the changing of the guard 💂

Great video. Something else you may want to check out is some Kentucky Ballistics material. The four bore rifle v/s body armor and the punt gun v/s car. He also has a video of his 50 cal exploding with him. Crazy stuff....

Cross the line or be disrespectful and see what happens there is a video on that.

😄👍🔥🇺🇸

Well, actually the cemetery was already there before the tomb was. The cemetery also has President Kennedy burial site, The shuttle challenger crew. The cemetery is on the property of General Robert E Lee.

7:25 terrible timing for leaf-blower guy..

I feel like it shouldn't be open to the public and only for the families of the respected members of our armed forces . My family is military and I have so much respect for the people who fought and continue to fight for our freedom ❤❤❤❤. The government takes this place very seriously and i ask everyone who visits to please show respect .

Thank you for not speaking.

While your enthusiasm is absolutely genuine, some of your facts need tweeking. Arlington National Cemetery is NOT a cemetery for AN unknown soldier. The particular TOMB where this ceremony takes place is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (sometimes known as the Tomb of the Unknowns (below)). The cemetery itself also houses the remains of our former president John F. Kennedy, assassinated in Dallas, Texas, USA in 1963, at whose gravesite is the Eternal Flame - a flame of remembrance never allowed to dim. Arlington, a city directly west across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, was originally part of the then-newly constituted Federal District, known as the District of Columbia (the "DC" in Washington, DC). Both of the states of Maryland and Virginia, divided in this region by the Potomac, ceded (1790) land to the newly formed (1789) federal government on which to build a new capital for a new nation. In 1847 the federal government returned the Virginia cessation to its original sovereignty, which is to say, it was returned to Virginia. Robert E. Lee, leader of the Army of Northern Virginia during our Civil War, and the premier general of the Confederate States of America (CSA - those states which seceded from the Union in order to prosecute their Civil War (1861-1865) against the federal government), lived at a plantation in Arlington. Though routed at almost every turn during the first two years of the war, the Federals took Arlington (then just a town), just across the Potomac, within the first month of hostilities. It is the land of that plantation, the estate of the rebel general Lee, which comprises the outline of today's Arlington National Cemetery, having been confiscated in the year prior to the war's conclusion and ultimately - or, I should say, originally - intended to be the last resting place of fallen Union (that is to say, victorious Northern (Union) servicemen (though there were so many dead soldiers that of necessity they were buried all over God's green acre)). Arlington is without a doubt the most prestigious of all American military cemeteries. Today there are still about a score and a half of weekly burials there. Real estate is at a premium, and I don't know the criteria for being allocated space, but there's little doubt that the running for space is in earnest. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, as those of us of a certain elder age are still wont to call it, is sometimes referred to as the Tomb of the Unknowns, though I believe its official name includes the word "Soldier" and is entirely in the grammatical singular. In 1921, I think it was, an unknown soldier from World War I was interred at the monument. In 1958, an unknown from each of World War II and the Korean War joined that hapless individual from a generation of more earlier, who had previously joined his fallen brother from perhaps two or three generations prior. Who else might have been buried there - Vietnam? Iraq? Afghanistan? - I know not. Anyhow, this is a more fulsome story of this impressive cemetery than you've heretofore been led to believe. Arlington National Cemetery today houses the remains of some 400k fallen American heroes, and though I have no knowledge of my supposition, I would not be surprised to learn if the remains of fallen Unknowns from the Revolution (1775-1783), the War of 1812 (1812-1815), the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), or the Spanish-American War (1898) have been disinterred and reinterred within these coveted acres.

I like you Ryan but don't enjoy your 'reactions' when you have already seen the videos. In your introductions you talk about details that you have already seen in the videos.