The uncle of one of my 8th grade students is a member of The Old Guard ar Arlington. And when I say uncle, I mean her 19-year-old-more-like-a-brother uncle since her mom basically raised him.

Anyway, since today was the last day before break, I had asked her and her mom if he would be willing to come speak to the 8th grade since they will be visiting Arlington on their big field trip later yhis school year. I've been to Arlington numerous times and have shown past classes videos about what to expect, so while I don't consider myself an expert by any means, I know quite a bit about it. But man, did I learn a lot today.

A couple of things:

During the time the cemetery is open, there isn't a set schedule of who gets to walk.  Except at night when they are on for 2 hour shifts and they don't have to stay on the mat.

The unknowns are the highest ranking members at the cemetery. Regardless of who shows up at the tomb, they don't get saluted.

If they have to step off the mat for any reason, usually to admonish noisy visitors, they stay off the mat until the get to the end and start their "21's" all over.

The fail rate of those trying to get in is about 70 percent.

That's just a few of the things. But it was a great honor to meet a member of The Old Guard, even if his niece and sister think he's a goof, which based on the photos his sister posts on Facebook, he kinda is.