Special Events

Here is a copy of the picture I received from the Italian Aid Society in Center Rutland Vermont . They said it was taken in 1921 and looking at my grandfather (first one on left) I think they may be right. My grandfather would have been about 19 years old at the time and my younger brother looked exactly like him at that age.

I also believe he was the only Swede on the crew. The rest were Italians. His name was Hugo W. Melen. I think that the Italian Aid Society has the names of all that worked on the tomb.

I was led to believe that they carved the tomb in 1921 and several years later a crack was found and the tomb was replaced in 1931. Now, after more research I read that congress didn't authorize the current tomb until 1926 and the contract for it was let in 1929. In 1931 my grandfather would have been about 29 years old and in the picture he looks younger.

The sarcophagus was completed in its current form and in position in Dec 1931. The Tomb of 1921 is the current sub base and base for the Completed Tomb of 1931. The Base of today was the cap in 1921 and it had engraving on the top. The picture I sent you is the current Dye on the Tomb when it was being cut.

(Clarification of this e-mail was provided by Sgt Geary, who is currently SOG, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier).

These are the pictures of the ceremony at the Tomb on June 7 when 15 of us received our Badge, orders and certificate from the Army. Those of us that got out of the Army between 7 February 1958 and 31 December 1962 had to turn in our badge before we left. It became a permanent award in 1963. The present regulation requires a minimum of 9 months on the Tomb to qualify for the award. Twenty four of us met that requirement. We will continue to work with those that had less than 9 months because of their ETS date.

The ceremony was held in the trophy room at 11:00 a.m. The SOG formed the 15 of us that could make it to Arlington, in three ranks. We were flanked by a cordon of present Badge holding sentinels. The orders were read and as each name was called, the RCO pinned the Badge on each of us. A short speech by the RCO followed. The ceremony was followed by a reception down in the guard quarters. The reception was put together by Irene Hart. Everything was well done and enjoyed by the men and their families. As the Colonel said "45 years is a long time to wait."

James Baker	* Donald Fahrenholz	* Neale Hart	* Donald Richburg
* John Butchko	Jack Findley	* David Kerecz	* Gary Robertson
* James Cardamon	Jay Fuerst	Douglas Lamke	* George Seawright
* Robert Carraher	Ronald Gibson	* Bernie Lorenz	Meredith Smith
* Thomas Core	Talmedge Gilley	William McCarley	* George Vanlandingham
* James Costello	David Goodwin	* Laurence Nagle	* Roger Wilkins

SPC Philip Fahrenholz (2nd Relief, 2003-present, Badge #521), son of Don Fahrenholz (2nd Relief, 1958-60, Badge #10), receiving his Tomb Guard Badge from COL Taylor on January 26. This is the first father and son ever to both be awarded the Badge.