--- title: "What happens if you try to touch the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier" description: "The sentinels at Arlington don't take kindly to laughter or crossing the chains. So don't try to touch the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier." date: "2022-05-24" modified: "2026-03-04" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/touching-tomb-unknown-soldier-sentinels/" categories: - "Army" - "History" tags: - "Army" - "Military Culture" - "Traditions" --- # What happens if you try to touch the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier ![A sentinel guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in a snowstorm]() *(U.S. Army/Sgt. Jose A. Torres Jr.)* The United States government was founded on the principle of the separation of church and state. That being said, if the U.S. could select a single holy site and have everyone in America agree that it was not to be trifled with, the frontrunner would be the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the monument to those who fought and died for the U.S. but remain unidentified. **Also Read: [These pistols are carried by NCOs at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier]()** [Arlington National Cemetery's]() Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded 24 hours a day, seven days a week by the tomb sentinels of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard. And these guys do not mess around. When it comes to discipline, The Old Guard has such a firm bearing that they can get [stabbed in the foot]() with a bayonet and keep standing guard. They will guard the tomb during hurricanes. They will stay at their post during epic snowstorms. There is nothing they won't do to maintain a watchful eye on what might be America's holiest of holies. So, it should come as no surprise that when tourists are around the tomb, these sentinels don't tolerate anything short of solemnity and adherence to the rules that govern such hallowed ground. In the past, [numerous videos have shown]() how the Old Guard responds to lollygagging tourists. Those who try to get a closer look at the tomb [by crossing the barrier]() get to hear the sound of the M1 Garand's bolt. ![touch the tomb of the unknown soldier WWII veteran arlington]() *World War II veterans can do whatever they want. Everyone else needs to stay behind the chains and rails. (U.S. Army/Elizabeth Fraser)* Imagine what happens if someone suddenly tries to reach out and touch the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier itself. It should be known that the sentinels are carrying fully functional weapons. Whether the rifles are *loaded* or if the sentinels have ammunition remains unknown (many sources say they don't), but that's not a reason to go testing the theory. What is known is that the pistols are definitely loaded, and the sentinels will move much faster than we're used to seeing them in order to stop you from putting your grubby mitts on the tomb. [Quora user Chris Leonard](), who used to be a part of the Old Guard, reminds us that maintenance work is done on the aging tomb all the time, but workers are expected to show the same reverence in touching the tomb for repairs that the sentinels themselves would observe—and the sentinels are watching them every second they're at work. Leonard recalled a moment where a maintainer touched the tomb in a manner inconsistent with the respect called for by the monument: he was leaning on it. The sentinel on duty yelled at the maintenance worker to stop and quickly approached. The sentinel then [cross-checked]() the man. The maintenance worker later apologized to the sentinels. The best decision would be to not try to touch the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. ### Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty **• [DNA science and public databases offer a new way to identify soldiers’ remains]()** **• When the Unknown Soldier laid in state at the Capitol** **• [Watch this guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns get stabbed and carry on]()** ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()