As the clock struck 9 a.m. (local time) and the bell tolled, an impeccably uniformed commander appeared.

He had come to conduct the changing of the guard ceremony in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located at the top of Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.

With an expressionless face, he walked toward the tomb at a steady pace and stride, then saluted.

His steps were perfectly disciplined and precise, as if trained down to the exact width of his swinging arms.

Turning around, the commander explained the ceremony to the visitors and asked them to remain standing and silent.

His voice was loud and disciplined, as if issuing orders on a battlefield.

A new guard emerged from the direction the commander had come.

The commander walked over to the new guard, took the M14 rifle with a bayonet attached to its end in a swift, snapping motion, and began his inspection.

A thorough inspection was carried out, meticulously checking every corner of the firearm.

After completing the inspection, the commander positioned the new guard holding the rifle and the outgoing guard on either side of the center.

A wreath-laying ceremony then took place with the participation of visitors.

Despite the inclement weather and drizzling rain, they appeared completely unfazed.

The already solemn atmosphere felt even more profound amid the guards' upright and disciplined movements.

After the 22-minute changing ceremony, the new guard stood before the tomb with his rifle.

Shortly after, at 9:30 a.m., the exact same ritual was performed again.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier contains the remains of American service members who lost their lives in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.

They represent the countless individuals who died in wars far from home and could not return to their families because their identities remained unknown.

Armed guards first began watching over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in March 1926.

Since then, for 100 years, guards have stood watch 24 hours a day, day and night, rain or shine.

The changing of the guard ceremony takes place every hour during the winter and every 30 minutes during the summer.

It has become a signature ceremony that almost all cemetery visitors and mourners watch at least once.

Even in storms or hurricanes, the armed guard and the changing ceremony are never suspended.

No matter how severe the weather, the ceremony honoring their sacrifices continues at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which overlooks downtown Washington, D.C.

On Tuesday, June 23, two days before the 76th anniversary of the Korean War, an American couple in their 60s, who had traveled to Washington, D.C. from Colorado and visited the national cemetery, stood in place for a long time even after the ceremony ended.

The wife, Kathy, said, "It breaks my heart that they lost their lives in war and couldn't return to their families," adding, "It is a small comfort to know there is a place for their souls to rest."

Her husband, Ryan, also said, "Some things you have to see in person to truly feel them," adding, "I am glad that the remains of the unknown soldiers are laid to rest at the highest point of the national cemetery and that the ceremonies to honor them continue."

When the remains of a single American World War I casualty were first buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 1921, there were reportedly no guards.

However, to show proper respect for the unknown soldiers, armed guards began standing watch in 1926.

The remains of a Korean War casualty were interred there in May 1958.

They were interred alongside the remains of a World War II casualty, and then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower awarded the Medal of Honor to both of the interred soldiers.

The interment ceremony at the time was held on a grand scale.

Caskets draped in large American flags lay in state at the U.S. Capitol, welcoming countless Americans who came to pay their respects.

The procession to Arlington National Cemetery and the interment were also conducted with the highest honors of the U.S. military.

In the memorial display room behind the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, photographs and explanations from that time are exhibited to help visitors understand.

Sentinels for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are selected through strict criteria and procedures; men must be 178 to 193 cm tall, and women must be 173 to 188 cm tall, with a well-proportioned build.

An impeccable military record is also essential.

During a two-week testing period, they must memorize and recite a seven-page history of Arlington National Cemetery without a single mistake.

Once they pass the first phase, they must learn the locations of 300 graves within the national cemetery, as well as the complex sequence of the changing of the guard ceremony and weapon handling.

They belong to the 3rd Infantry Regiment, a historic U.S. Army unit established in 1784.

While the unit also serves as the Army's official honor guard and presidential escort, those who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are called the "elite of the elite."
 
(Photo: Yonhap News)