Tomb of the Unknown guard completes final walk, places single rose at each crypt

ARLINGTON, Va. (FOX 5 DC) - Touching photos captured the moments a Tomb of the Unknown guard completed his final walk at the Arlington National Cemetery.

Sgt. Antonio Garcia placed a single rose at each of the crypts and was greeted by his wife, mother and children as he conducted his last walk on Wednesday. 

Garcia has served his country for more than three years, serving the past 25 months as a Tomb Guard. He successfully completed his tomb training in five months. The 4th Battalion, 3d US Infantry Regiment (“The Old Guard”) told FOX 5 that tomb training typically takes a soldier six to eight months to complete on average.

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He also managed to complete airborne school and ranger school in his first attempts while juggling his tomb duties.

Garcia completed more than 600 walks and 400 guard changes as a Tomb Guard and is preparing to join the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Vicenza, Italy.

In the video player above, watch our previous Beyond the Lens report that gives a behind-the-scenes look at the men and women whose duty it is to guard the Tomb of the Unknown.