DR. JERRY WALLACE, BRUCE JOHNSON, CLARA REDA, JOANNE REDA WALLACE
VOG members packed Activities Room A in anticipation of the presentation on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by guest speaker, Dr. Jerald L. Wallace. Wallace, who spent a year and a half as a member of the Honor Guard at the Tomb, showed a video of the famous ceremony of the Changing of the Guard. He gave a detailed history of the establishment of the tomb and the selection process for the unidentified WWI serviceman to be interred there. Later, more monuments were erected, and the same selection process was used to honor the unidentified fallen soldiers in WWII and the Korean Conflict. The most recent monument was to honor the Viet Nam unknowns. However, after an unknown soldier was selected and buried, his remains were identified as a downed pilot. He was disinterred and his remains returned to his family. Consequently, it was decided to dedicate this monument to all of the Viet Nam War MIAs.
Wallace was a U.S. Army paratrooper when he was selected to join the Honor Guard. He described the rigorous training required for soldiers who aspired to perform this sacred duty. The guards learn the required posture and stance and to crisply “shoulder arms.” They are also taught a rolling-gait walking style which has no bounce. Above all, they stay focused on their duty to guard the tombs. They are vigilant in their mission to prevent disrespect by intruders as they walk 21 steps on the mat, turn, pause for 21 seconds, then walk back 21 steps. This tireless ritual repeats itself 24 hours a day, every day of the year, regardless of the weather. The impressive Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place every half hour in the summer and every hour in the winter.
Wallace stated that walking the line surrounded by the spirits of fallen heroes had a profound effect on him, especially late at night when Arlington is closed and all is quiet. At night, the lone sentry has time to reflect on the character of those who gave their lives in service to their country.
After four years in the military, Wallace went to college, then spent 35 years in entrepreneurial pursuits, primarily in the construction and development arenas in South Florida. Currently, Wallace is a professor of Entrepreneurship and Business Management at Point University in Georgia. He is the son-in-law of Clara and the late Joe Reda. Jerry and his wife Joanne, who also served as a Marine, split their time between Hamilton, Ga., and Fort Myers. The Wallaces have been married for 40 years and have two married daughters and two grandchildren. Wallace’s book about his service as a sentinel, Surrounded by Heroes, will be available this summer.
During the brief business meeting, President Bruce Johnson read thank-you notes for VOG donations from Hearts and Homes and from Holidays for Heroes. He also announced that members should sign up for the annual picnic at 1 p.m. on April 16 and that the Veterans Day dinner dance will be November 11. Ticket sales will begin in June.
