STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — A nation spends Memorial Day weekend remembering its military’s fallen. Luke Porter devotes most of his life to that mission. It’s his job.
He also makes sure others pay proper respect.
Spc. Brett Hyde, Tomb Sentinel, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), inspects a soldier’s rifle at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, May 21, 2014. Hyde served at the Tomb for the past 34 months.
When he walks across the plaza of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, his uniform crisp and immaculate, creases like razors, all eyes turn to him.
Tourists lounge and gab — until the State College native delivers the standard address for the Changing of the Guard ceremony.
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please,” he intones. “I am Sgt. Porter, of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, United States Army Guard of Honor, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
“The ceremony that you are about to witness is the changing of the guard. In keeping with the dignity of the ceremony it is requested that everyone remain silent and standing. Thank you.”
It always works.
“As soon as we say that, everyone stands up and everyone stops talking, and I love to see that,” Porter said.
Marines call themselves the “the few, the proud.” They’ve got nothing on Porter.
He’ll soon receive the prestigious Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Identification Badge, the Army’s second least-awarded badge behind the Astronaut Badge, to become a member of the tomb’s Honor Guard.
Nine months of rigorous, on-the-job training, completed April 21, led to the sterling silver badge about 2 inches wide. At 24, Porter will become the 623rd recipient in Army history, and only the third medic to accomplish the feat.
On June 9, the badge will be pinned to his uniform, officially making him one of Arlington’s famous sentinels.
“To me, just in my personal experience, in my humble opinion, it’s my way of rendering honor to all the service people who came before me,” Porter said.
He has gone through a lot to earn the chance.
A 2008 State College Area High School graduate, he enlisted in the Army Reserves while still a student, then re-enlisted for active duty — a goal since middle school. His grandfather had been an infantry officer. One brother joined the Army and another served in the Marines.
“I always looked up to them,” Porter said. “I figured it would be the best way to not only serve my country but also carry on a family tradition.”
He became a platoon medic with the 6th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Kirkuk, Iraq. After his deployment ended, he planned to leave the military and come to Penn State to pursue a business management degree. (read more)