Tonight: American Legion Post 20 to host Honor Guard society leader on Tomb of the Unknown Soldier centennial, 7 p.m.

This year's 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery is scheduled to be the subject of a virtual meeting of the National Press Club's American Legion Post 20 on Monday, March 8, at 7 p.m.

Retired Army Sergeant Major Gavin McIlvenna, president of the Society of the Honor Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and centennial chairman, plans to discuss the tomb's history and events planned in Washington and elsewhere for the centennial. The centennial date is Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11. A solemn ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery is planned for that date.  

The remains of the World War I unknown soldier were interred at Arlington on Nov. 11, 1921. They were transported from France by the Navy ship USS Olympia, which arrived at the Washington Navy Yard on Nov. 9. The unknown soldier remains were then transferred via caisson to the U.S. Capitol, where they lay in state in the Rotunda before being taken to Arlington for burial two days later. Subsequently, remains of unknown U.S. service members from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars were interred at the Tomb. 

All Club members are invited to the speaker portion of the meeting, which begins shortly after introductions. Please RSVP to Post 20 Sergeant at Arms Evelyn Moy at [email protected]. A link to the meeting will be provided.

Post 20 was founded at the Club in 1919 at the suggestion of famed World War I Gen. John "Black Jack" Pershing. At the time Pershing was serving in Washington and was an associate member of the Club. The post commemorated its centennial on Nov. 19, 2019, 100 years to the day of the issuance of its initial charter by American Legion headquarters.