Swallow Cliff Chapter NSDAR hosts Tomb Honor Guards

On Saturday, November 20th, in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Swallow Cliff Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution welcomed two members of the Society of the Honor Guard Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (SHGTUS) to the Palos Heights Public Library as the speakers for the November DAR meeting. Ralph Till and Joe Varanauski, both residents of Tinley Park, served as Sentinels in 1957 and 1958. They brought with them memorabilia from their time as guards, including Ralph's Tomb Guard Badge and Joe's hat and scabbard and photos of Joe as a Tomb Guard. Ralph began his part of the talk by reading the Tomb Guard's Creed and found that he was still moved by the sentiments expressed in it. He said that the Tomb Guard Badge was the only one in the Army that could be revoked if a Guard did anything dishonorable. They shared how the memorial came into being after World War I and how it has changed with the addition of three other unknown soldiers from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. After the remains of the Vietnam soldier were identified through DNA, they were returned to the family for burial. That tomb remains empty. Ralph and Joe became Tomb Guards through identical processes. They both were among three chosen from their basic training group of 800 and then were sent to Arlington, Virginia, to join a select group of 160 for guard training. Ralph and Joe spoke about the level of perfection required in maintaining their uniforms and performing their shift movements. Ralph told about a special guarding assignment for the burial of Chief of Staff Maxwell D. Taylor, while Joe told what a thrill it was to be a 19-year-old and assigned to the Dwight D. Eisenhower's inaugural parade and ball. Only soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), an Army combat unit, may guard the Tomb, and it wasn't until 1994 that women were allowed to volunteer to train as Sentinels. There have only been 5 women thus far who have earned the Tomb Guard Identification Badge. The Society of the Honor Guard members all across the United States are proud to tell the stories about their service.