A military life is a demanding one. There are frequent moves, training that challenges head and heart, absence from loved ones, gruesome commanders, stresses emotional and physical and, oh, by the way, you might get killed. My son is in such a life, but he’s on a diplomatic track now and works in embassies, so the hills he climbs are mostly intellectual. For thousands of people around the world, what drives you to a military life is loyalty - to a flag, a unit, an idea or a tradition. But like everything, there are degrees of loyalty. The unit that guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery, “the Old Guard”, for instance, are known for their obsessive attention to detail, detail that goes far beyond any requirement from the Department of the Army. They do this because of the unique and solemn nature of their mission. There’s one particular group of soldiers especially famous for loyalty to the British monarch as the following tale demonstrates.
© 2024 John Oliver
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