Edsel Hamilton III retweeted
What an interesting read...........
On Jeopardy the other night, the final question asked: “How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the Tomb of the Unknown?”
All three contestants missed it.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the Tomb and why?
He takes 21 steps — symbolizing the 21-gun salute, the highest military and foreign tribute.
2. How long does he pause before turning to walk back and why?
He waits 21 seconds, again in honor of the same tradition.
3. Why are his gloves damp?
They are lightly moistened to ensure he never loses his grip on his rifle.
4. Does he keep his rifle on the same shoulder, and if not, why?
He always carries it on the shoulder farthest from the Tomb. After each crossing, he performs an about-face and moves it to the outside shoulder.
5. How often are the guards changed?
Every 30 minutes, 24/7, 365 days a year.
6. What are the physical requirements for a Tomb Guard?
Applicants must be between 5'10" and 6'2" and have a waist no larger than 30".
Other expectations of the Guard:
They devote two years to the Tomb, live in the barracks beneath it, and must refrain from drinking alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives.
They can never swear in public or dishonor the uniform or the Tomb.
After two years, they earn a wreath pin signifying their service — fewer than 400 are currently worn.
If they violate the code, they must relinquish the pin.
Their shoes have thick soles to protect against extreme temperatures and metal heel plates that create the crisp click when they halt.
Uniforms must have zero wrinkles or lint and are inspected in a full-length mirror.
For the first six months, guards do not speak to anyone and do not watch television.
Their off-duty time is spent studying the 175 notable individuals buried at Arlington National Cemetery, memorizing who they are and where they rest.
Among them: President Taft, Joe E. Lewis, and Audie Murphy, the most decorated WWII soldier.
Every guard spends five hours daily preparing their uniform.
ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM, O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.
When Hurricane Isabel approached Washington, D.C. in 2003, Congress shut down for two days. The guards were offered permission to suspend duty due to danger.
They replied: “No way, Sir!”
Drenched and marching through the storm, they insisted that guarding the Tomb is the highest honor, not just a task.
The Tomb has been continuously guarded — day and night — since 1930.
God Bless and Keep Them
I don’t often encourage sharing posts, but I would be honored if this one reached as many people as possible. We should always feel proud of the men and women who serve, wherever they are stationed.
Duty – Honor – Country
IN GOD WE TRUST — with Herbert F Wieland.
Readers added context they thought people might want to know
Some claims in this post are inaccurate. The Society of the Honor Guard says the Tomb has been guarded since 1937, the guard changes hourly in winter, sentinels can drink off duty, and there is no lifetime ban on alcohol or swearing.
tombguard.org/society/faq leadstories.com/hoax-alert/202…
There were some questions re the 8-1-2 Pullman pool car I previously showed. This is the 10-1-2 that was being painted at the time and it is the assigned car on MKT 27&28 Houston Bluebonnet. Katy had 4; this is one. ##TMRGUSA 🇺🇸
New MKT E8s 106A and 106C first run together on layout - on Train 27 the Houston Bluebonnet. Oscillating top headlights look pretty good. ##TMRGUSA 🇺🇸
Thanks to all our International friends who supported the US tonight. We Americans really appreciate your support.🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲⚽️⚽️⚽️
Edsel Hamilton III retweeted
A church in Atlanta was honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.
After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down, he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait to the podium.
Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak....
"When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50-odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me...
The only thing that would comfort was this verse....
"Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
We are weak but He is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me....
The Bible tells me so."
The old pastor stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the best."
"Here for you now is a Senior version of Jesus Loves Me":
JESUS LOVES ME
Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
(CHORUS)
YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go
On through life, let come what may,
He'll be there to lead the way.
(verse 2)
When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song..
Telling me in words so clear,
"Have no fear, for I am near."
(Verse 3)
When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love.
(CHORUS)
I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.
If you think this is neat, please pass it on to your friends. If you do not pass it on, nothing bad will happen, but you will have missed an opportunity to "reach out and touch" a friend or a loved one. God Bless Us All!!! AMEN!
Edsel Hamilton III retweeted
So I watched "The Passion of the Christ" last night. And I am on my back deck tonight thinking.
Think about this.
In the movie, they have beaten him to near death and when they first take him to his cross, Jesus clings to it, and the thief chastised him for embracing his own cross. Mocking him for doing so.
Then Christ gave all he had to carry that cross which weighed as much as him.. They beat him while he did. It came to the point that his physical body couldn't carry it any longer, so a man was ordered to carry it with him. Yet Christ still clung to the cross.
Do you know why?
Because he knew at the other end of that short journey was OUR freedom. Not his.... OURS..... with every single step, with every drop of blood, with every single tear, he knew he was one moment closer to being at the right hand of the Father and his mission complete to free us all.
The man embraced the cross. Begged God to forgive the men nailing him to it. Begged God to forgive those that had beaten him with whips and canes and hammered a crown of thorns on his head.
He embraced it all.... for US......
And now, when times get hard and life gets even slightly uncomfortable, we claim that "God isn't listening and won't take my burden" as if we even know what a real burden is...
How many times would we cling to the proverbial cross for another and suffer as he did to free them from the pain? Would we ever do it at all? Maybe for our own child? Maybe?
As you lay down tonight, pray a prayer of thanks. Not for the normal things. Not tonight. Tonight, pray a special prayer of thanks that he held on to that cross and carried it as far as his mortal body would allow... because that took more dedication than any of us could give for anyone.
By the time you wake up in the morning, he will have risen, 2000 years ago. He will have beat death. 2000 years ago, all the sin you and I will ever commit was paid for because he clung to that cross like it was a lifeline.... not for him... But for you and me.
Katy Mike 891 blows through the double water column at Winslow with a short southbound manifest. Auxiliary water car behind the tender made this possible. Katy also had purpose built water tenders in addition to the converted tanks. ##TMRGUSA 🤠🇺🇲
Edsel Hamilton III retweeted
Luke 2:21.
Eight days old.
Circumcised according to the law.
And His name was called JESUS.
Not suggested.
Not voted on.
Commanded.
The world has spent 2,000 years trying to bury that name.
They struck it from schools.
Banned it from courts.
Softened it to “higher power” in the churches.
And you wonder why the West is on fire…
In Genesis — He’s the seed of the woman.
In Exodus — the Passover Lamb.
In Leviticus — the Atoning Sacrifice.
In Numbers — the serpent lifted up in the wilderness.
In Ruth — the Kinsman Redeemer.
In Job — the Living Personal Redeemer.
In Psalms — the Praise of His people.
In Isaiah — the Suffering Servant.
In Daniel — the Fourth Man in the furnace.
In Jonah — the Resurrected One.
In Malachi — the Sun of Righteousness.
In Matthew — the Promised Messiah.
In Mark — the Powerful Messiah.
In Luke — the Friend of Sinners.
In John — the Son of God who is also God.
In Acts — the Ascended Lord.
In Romans — the believer’s Righteousness.
In Hebrews — our Great High Priest.
In Revelation — the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Sixty-six books.
Forty authors.
Fifteen hundred years.
One name.
JESUS.
His name is above every name.
At His name, every knee bows.
In His name, demons flee.
In His name, the lame walk.
In His name, sins are forgiven.
In His name, the dead rise.
No other name under heaven by which we can be saved.
The name of Jesus literally means “YHWH Saves.”
He was given that name because He will save people from their sins.
Not might.
Will.
His name is the Word.
His name is Son of God.
His name is Son of Man.
His name is Lamb of God.
His name is the great I AM.
His name is Alpha and Omega.
His name is Wonderful.
Counsellor.
Mighty God.
Everlasting Father.
Prince of Peace.
You want power?
It’s not in your plans.
You want peace?
It’s not in your circumstances.
You want salvation?
It’s not in your effort.
It’s in the name.
Say it out loud right now.
JESUS.
Let your walls hear it.
Let your demons hear it.
Let your children hear it.
The name before time began.
The name after everything burns.
The name that will be on every tongue willingly or unwillingly — when He returns.
JESUS.
Drop His name in the replies.
One word.
Flood this post with the only name that saves.
JESUS.
Edsel Hamilton III retweeted
“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” —Luke 2:8-14
Solid reefer block behind A-B-A set of F3s blasts through Abbott TX and then Winslow yard south of Hillsboro on MKT Ft. Worth Division c. 1950. Scenery just complete on these sections of the layout. #TMRGUSA 🇺🇲🤠
Edsel Hamilton III retweeted
Locomotion No1 departs Heighington on 5Z01 1145 Shildon-Darlington Hopetown recreating the 1st passenger train from 200 years ago!
Katy Ft. Worth Division layout is about as ready as its going to be for the Austin Model Train Show layout tours this Saturday & Sunday. If you're going to the show or in the area, please drop in. I'll have the 1880 1:55 finescale East Line & Red River open too. #TMRGUSA 🤠 🇺🇲
Edsel Hamilton III retweeted
An American Locomotive builder's photo of new Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad ("Katy") PA-1 #152-A; spring, 1949.
american-rails.com/90778.htm…
Fuel dealer in Abbott. Swarm on the 1949 Ford -gas, oil, windshield. Real service. Doesn't hurt that the driver is a pretty girl. Garage crew taking a break. Shoved into a long thin area between the Katy tracks and US Hwy 77/81, which ran through town then. #TMRGUSA 🤠 🇺🇲
