U.S. Army Sgt. Ruth Hanks, is only the fourth female to become a Sentinel at The Tomb of the Unknowns and is dedicated to being part of the brotherhood guarding the nation’s most sacred place.
Mounted by a select and dedicated platoon of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) which dates back to 1784, the Tomb Guards have maintained their post unbroken for 48 years despite all extremes of weather, holidays and events.
“I know I am a female and I feel that is detracting from our mission and what we do so I am always trying to bring it back to the Unknowns so that everybody remembers what we are here for,” says Hanks, a Military Policeman with the 289th Military Police Company assigned to the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). “They are not here to see me. They are here for our Unknowns.”
Duty at the Tomb is such a high honor that the qualification badge for the Tomb Guards is the second-least awarded badge in the U.S. military, with the first being the Astronaut Badge.
And you have to admit, the ceremonial M9 in the leather holster is pretty sweet.
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