Conducting a final walk at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a high honor for a Tomb Guard assigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as "The Old Guard," as is earning the Tomb Guard Identification Badge. However, to do both on the same day is a rare event. That's just what happened to Army Staff Sgt. Thomas Tavenner on March 11, 2024.
At noon, when Tavenner completed guarding the Tomb, he walked to the southern end of Memorial Plaza, where the ceremony's host, Army Spc. Wyatt Stearns, told him "Staff Sgt. Thomas Tavenner, for the last time fall out." Instead of leaving the plaza, Tavenner handed his rifle to a waiting Tomb Guard and returned to the center of the plaza, where a sergeant first class, along with Tavenner's parents and grandfather, awaited him.
Tavenner took off his sunglasses and gloves and gave them to the sergeant, who, in return, handed Tavenner five red roses. Tavenner shook his father's hand and hugged his mother, giving her a rose. Then, in the disciplined cadence the Tomb Guards are known for, he walked to the Tomb of the World War I Unknown, dropped to one knee, and laid a rose at its base. He did the same for the Vietnam War, World War II and Korean War Unknowns.
Once he finished, Tavenner saluted the Tomb as a bugler sounded Taps. He then escorted his parents and grandfather away from the Tomb for the last time.
But the day was not over. Soon after, Tavenner stood in the center of the chapel under the Memorial Amphitheater, in front of his family, his fellow Guards and guests as he awaited the presentation of his Tomb Badge. Tomb Guards earn the badge after completing five phases of testing. It is considered one of the most challenging badges to earn in the Army.
Army 1st Lt. Henry Newstrom, the commander of the Guard, overseeing the ceremony, explained why Tavenner had his last walk on the same day as earning his Tomb Badge. "Despite our best efforts to retain Sgt. Tavenner," said Newstrom, "our Army Human Resources Command needs recruiters, so he will be recruiting in Norfolk, Nebraska."
Then Newstrom read out a list of Tavenner's accomplishments. "Over the past eleven months, Staff Sgt. Tavenner has completed 210 walks and 102 public wreath-laying ceremonies," he said. "He has walked ceremonially for over 111 miles while guarding the Unknowns—a distance that will get you to Richmond, Virginia, Ocean City, New Jersey, or Philadelphia."
Then Newstrom explained something even more impressive: A twelve-hour post guarding the Tomb from dusk to dawn is known as a vigil. Similarly, an ironman consists of performing a back-to-back guard change, followed immediately by a vigil. Newstrom said that Tavenner conducted 14 vigils, with two of those being ironman, an average of one vigil per month. "That is honestly incredible," said Newstrom. "What you did to support your relief and our team as a whole is awesome."
After thanking Tavenner's family for traveling from Billings, Montana, and raising him as the man he is today, Newstrom introduced Army Lt. Col. Peter Vangjel, the commander of The Old Guard's 4th Battalion, who spoke about the importance of the Tomb Guards representing the Army to the nation and to the world, and the level of perfection to which they hold themselves. He then spoke about Tavenner's future. "Staff Sgt. Tavenner is going into another critical area," said Vangjel. "He's going to help bring soldiers in to keep the Army strong and our nation strong."
Vangjel then invited Tavenner's family to pin on the Tomb Badge. Tavenner's grandfather, an Air Force veteran, David Kastel, did the honors while Tavenner's parents proudly looked on. His mother, Monica Tavenner, wiped away tears during the ceremony.
When it was over, the other Tomb Guards in the room stood at attention and, with Tavenner leading them, recited the 1971 Sentinel Creed. Tavenner thanked different people in the room, saying, "Each sentinel helped me at some point."
When the ceremony ended, Tavenner explained why he picked his grandfather to pin on his badge. "He pinned on my blue cord when I graduated basic training," he said, "so I figured he was the right person to pin the badge."