(media release from the Americanism Committee of the Exchange Club of Rome):
Thursday, March 4, 2021 will mark the actual beginning of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial at Arlington National Cemetery. This is the date in 1921 when Congress appropriated the money to construct the Tomb to house the remains of the Unknown Soldier of World War I on the then newly constructed plaza of the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington.
Rome is fortunate to have the only traveling replica of this iconic structure endorsed by the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Arlington National Cemetery. It is ½ size in scale and includes the World War I Tomb, and the crypts of the Unknowns from World War II, Korea, and the now empty crypt of the Vietnam War Unknown, as he was identified in 1998. It also includes 6 of the most historical flags in our history and our military service flags and the POW -MIA flag.
This National Award – winning exhibit is owned by the Rome Exchange Club and will be on display outside in front of the Renaissance Marquis on March 4 and 5, 2021 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. both days. Should the weather be questionable it will be moved inside to the lobby. Members of the travel team that have traveled with this exhibit some 30,000 miles zigzagging across the United States will be present to share the message that we, as Americans, should never forget the sacrifices of our fallen men and women of our Armed Forces, both those known and those still unknown.
You are cordially invited to come see and learn more about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the crypts of the World War II, Korean, and Vietnam unknowns, how they were selected for their respective war periods, and about the Arlington National Cemetery’s beginning and history.
Come and be with us on March 4 & 5 to see this moving and powerful exhibit!