Dean, I thought they changed it to reflect the inclusion of Unknowns from services other than the Army. Sailors have never been considered soldiers, and the Air Force's generic title for its personnel is "airmen."

A Marine might be considered a soldier, but don't call one that to his face. He'll get almost as insulted as if you called him a sailor. ;-)

Maybe, but it's too inclusive. They could have said "Unknown Servicemen" or "Unknown Service Members." Right now, it covers unlawful combattants or pretty much anyone who gets crisped and can't be DNA-identified.

It used to mean something.

All of you guys are missing the point.

Yes, the official name is 'The Tomb of the Unknowns' The name was changed some time ago because there are multiple sets of remains there - each from different conflicts. For this reason, the singular no longer is accurate.

Jonathan - you most certainly mistaken. It Symbolises American Military personnel lost in combat who either were not recovered or could not be identified. It is in no way shape or form the type of potentially PC amok abomination you're describing or imagining.

And it still does mean something. It is difficult to put in words, particularly condensed into a comments section. The only advice I can give you if you think that it lacks meaning, or have any ambivilance whatsoever as to what that meaning is - is to take the journey to the gates of Arlington National Cemetary, and walk in. It is open every day of the year to the public, at 8AM.

Walk up the hill, to the top, and go through the ampitheater, to the side where the Tomb of the Unknowns is located. And take a seat. Stay for a while, and watch the changing of the guard. And stay a little while longer.

If, after doing that, you still fail to see any meaning, or grasp the impact of that meaning, then, unfortunately, I'm afraid you never, ever will.

How long the Unknowns shall remain unknown is just about the only remaining mystery.

In this wondrous (?) age of instant DNA indentification someone can accurately say: "Yes indeed, Thomas Jefferson did father a child with Sally Hemings back in the 18th century, and here are the social security numbers of their current progeny."

One by one, I suppose, the Unknowns of all the big and little wars since the beginning of the 20th century will assume identity, go to rest with their extended families, and the mystery and gradeur will die with the discovery of their real identities and lives.

So there goes the hallowed ground as it becomes just another VA cemetery. Sort of like meeting God for a cup of coffee and some fruit danish at Starbucks, then each of you driving off in your SUVs.

Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI

Arnold,

There will be no more "unknown soldiers", thanks to DNA analysis. But the unknown veterans of WWI, WWII and Korea will never be identified. The key is in having some suspicion of who the person is. Given that, one can test a limited set of family members to prove identity. For the WWI, WWII and Korean unknowns, there is not enough suspicion as to who they are to make testing feasible, and there will never be, as the people who could have provided such are dead or dieing.

Agree with Gary (upstream)...

And with WindRider, addressing others, its not the technical DNA-teeth-fingerprints aspect that is revered or enshrined here...

Its more that an American, in defense of the freedom and responsible choice that is America, died... so horrifically, under such horrific conditions, that neither teeth, nor fingerprints nor dogtags were left close enough to the remains to identify WHO this brother was...

Therein lies the sadness, the poignancy of it all...
That we are unable to say more than, "Here lies an unidentifiable US soldier/sailor/marine... known but to God..." and hence we cannot REALLY directly thank him by name for his sacrifice on our behalf...

There are crosses from the Civil War, which mark the final resting places of thousands of Americans, known but to God... and, though you didn't ask, its worth noting here that my family served in the Confederacy AND the Union, so for me these are a particularly difficult and multi-painful heritage...

Can you get this? Does it percolate down and touch something deep inside you? Can you accept the depth and meaning of their nameless sacrifice?

I am truly sorry I had to spell it out, but the exercise, IF YOU CAN GET THIS, was indeed worth it.

And this is a small Eye Opener...

Not to go off-topic, but DNA testing does have its limits. For example (and here's where I risk starting an off-topic discussion) the Jefferson-Hemings DNA results only proved that a male descendant of (I believe) Thomas Jefferson's grandfather was the father of Sally Hemings.

If Grandpa Jefferson was a "playah" -- as wealthy men sometimes were in those days -- that widens the field just a tad...

Gentlemen,

I am not sure where you heard that the official name is "Tomb of the Unknowns." I was a guard there uo until a year ago, and always, even in ceremony which is governed by military regulations, it was called "The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier." If it can be proven that the name is "officially" changed, then it is not being followed by the unit that holds a strict standard of honor and tradition.

Scott

I heard that the tomb has a crack in it,and they are sppose to be rebuilding it. Do you anything about that.

Hey D A.k.A Dean

I need som info on when they are re building the tomb because of the crack in it.And Lisa Barnez is my sista. Thats why we have the same E mail address.

From BOO BOO!

holla back

good work