Guarding the Tomb of the Unknowns

I took this at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Arlington Cemetery , A blistering hot day that day.

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Great shot! You can tell by the sweat that it was hot. Hope you watched the changing of the guard.

It is really patriotic.

Very "squared away" gent....your composition does this posture justice....sure that's not a tear? It's an emotional duty for these boys....

really like this photo..

Your duty towards you countru preceeds everything!

You really seized the expression!

Thank YOu for the responses and yes i am very patriotic and love my country

Yes it's a great honour to be selected to do these types of duties. I know in my time in the military I always came off a march or parade feeling extremely good abotu myself and my country. The cheers and the good on ya boys from the old WWII diggers was the best of all

It's also painful.

Great picture! Love the composition too.

I saw the changing of the Guard at Arlington Cemetery years ago, they were like robots, the marching was so precise, and much like the picture represents the sunglasses seemed permanently attached to their heads.

Quintessential U.S. image.

Interesting that they still garner pre-m16 (m1's I think) rifles. Well they do look more beautiful. Was this done with your 75-300?

SO DO I. Stunningly beautiful shot.

I see your from IL, big game this weekend. The Bears can clinch the division.

GO BEARS!!!

Fantastic shot...Good enough for a recruiting poster. thanks for sharing this one.

I don't think it's a tear, peachman. You can see that the glasses aren't touching his cheek. I assume a sweat bead that went from his eyebrow down over his glasses.

Also, yes, that appears to be an M1 Garand. A bit more "historical" looking than the M16

It's a great shot.. well done.

I was there in May... it's a very moving expeirience..

The rifle is the Marine M14... a later fully automatic evolution of the M1.. in .308 (Nato 7.62) Vs. the M1's .30-06 The .308 was literally a "short" .30-06

The M14 remained in service with the Marines long after the intro of the Army's M16 replaced it in Army standard issue service... and highly modified sniper versions remain in service today.. (M21) as well as .. apperently some M14s for parade work at least.. if not for duty perhaps in reserves etc...

Certain spec ops units will have people that use them too..

In many ways a far superior weapon to the M16,. but much heavier and harder to master.

You can tell the differnce easier in a full shot,. but the receivers though looking very similar are indeed different enough, the bolt lock etc.. also the heat sheild over the barrel.. metal on an M14.. wood on a Garand.