University Honors Veterans at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

By Lauren Ingeno

One week before Veterans Day, George Washington President Steven Knapp honored Americans who have fought and died in war by participating in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Dr. Knapp was joined by student veteran Verónica María Hoyer, George Washington University Board of Trustees member Mark Shenkman, M.B.A. ’67, and Vice Admiral (retired) Melvin G. Williams, associate provost for military and veterans affairs.

“We have more than 1,000 student veterans and dependents who are using GI Bill benefits at the university. And many others have friends and family who have died on behalf of our country,” Dr. Knapp said. “I think this ceremony is very meaningful for a large portion of our student community.”

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier sits atop a hill overlooking Washington, D.C. The stone sarcophagus is above the grave of a World War I unknown soldier, and west of it are crypts of unknown soldiers from World War II and Korea. The soldier that had been buried in the Vietnam War grave was identified in 1998, and that crypt now remains vacant.

As the cemetery bells chimed at 11 a.m., members of the GW wreath-laying party and more than 75 others from the university, including  senior administration, deans, students and NROTC members, silently witnessed the Changing of the Guards, which occurs every hour in front of the tomb.

A soldier guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday morning.

The wreath laying ceremony took place on Monday at Arlington National Cemetery.

Visitors walk up the hill to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame is a presidential memorial at the gravesite of U.S. President John F. Kennedy in Arlington National Cemetery.

Tom Russo, GW's assistant vice president for industry research, speaks with members of the GW wreath laying party.

Ver'nica Mar'a Hoyer, a freshman in the Elliott School of International Affairs, served on board the MC-12W Project Liberty as ad hoc Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance support for Operation Enduring Freedom.

The guard is changed every hour on the hour Oct. 1 to March 31 in an elaborate ritual.

The guard is changed every hour on the hour Oct. 1 to March 31 in an elaborate ritual.

The guard is changed every hour on the hour Oct. 1 to March 31 in an elaborate ritual.

The guard is changed every hour on the hour Oct. 1 to March 31 in an elaborate ritual.

The gift of flowers at a memorial site is a ritual that occurs around the world.

President Steven Knapp, Board of Trustees member Mark Shenkman, M.B.A. '67, student veteran Ver'nica Mar'a Hoyer and Vice Admiral (retired) Melvin G. Williams are led down the stairs to the tomb.

President Steven Knapp and University Board of Trustees member Mark Shenkman, M.B.A. '67, lay the wreath.

Ver'nica Mar'a Hoyer salutes at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Military personnel and veterans salute as other onlookers place their hands over their hearts.

More than 75 people from the GW community attended the ceremony on Monday.

Members of the GW community introduce themselves to veterans at the wreath laying ceremony.

A Tomb of the Unknowns Sentinel responds to questions about his duties.

The Tomb of the Unknowns is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and in any weather by Tomb Guard sentinels.

After members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment become ceremonially qualified, they are eligible to volunteer for duty as sentinels at the Tomb. If accepted, they are assigned to Company E of The Old Guard. Each soldier must be in superb physical condition, possess an unblemished military record and be between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet, 4 inches tall.

Victor Weedn, chair of GW's Department of Forensic Science, founded the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL), which identified the body of the unknown Vietnam War soldier as first lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie in 1998.

Victor Weedn, chair of GW's Department of Forensic Science, founded the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL), which identified the body of the unknown Vietnam War soldier as first lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie in 1998.