Old Guard monument honors past, present and future

Past, present and future.

That’s how a new monument at Fort Myer is honoring the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard).

The Old Guard Monument was unveiled on Tuesday during a ceremony at the Virginia-based Army post, and the focus is a bronze sculpture featuring three Old Guard soldiers. Each soldier represents a different aspect of the regiment’s service over time, including a Fife and Drum Corps member, a combat soldier and a Tomb of the Unknowns guard.

“We are here today to dedicate this sculpture to the soldiers — past, present and future,” said Barbara Mungenast, the monument’s sculptor. “This sculpture was created to thank those who gave themselves to our wonderful America.”

Mungenast said she wants the bronze statues to represent any gender or ethnicity because she wanted “to show diversity.”

“I want the viewer to make it be whatever they need it to be,” said Mungenast, whose late husband served in the Army.

“We are all connected,” she said. “We are all America.”

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The Old Guard is the oldest active-duty infantry regiment in the Army, but there are no official monuments representing them.

Retired Col. James Laufenburg, the 74th regimental commander, said the mission to create the monument started about 15 years ago.

“I’m proud to say … mission complete,” said Laufenburg, who spearheaded the effort.

The sculpture is the centerpiece of a new public space, and Laufenburg said the idea was to provide an area to hold ceremonies for promotions, reenlistments and command changes.

The plaza and sculpture are next to Fort Myer’s Summerall Field, the post’s parade ground lined by historic buildings.

Col. Jason Garkey, the regiment’s 81st and current commander, said the American public can see a monument that represents the total Army.

“The pride and heritage we all feel was accurately captured by Barbara,” Garkey said.

Pete Martinelli, a member of the Old Guard Association, said he enjoyed attending the ceremony.

“I think I learned more about the Old Guard today than I knew about my entire life,” said Martinelli, who served on the Caisson Platoon for two years.

The Old Guard has represented so much for so many years, he said.

“It’s really nice that all parts of it are there for everybody to see for a long time,” Martinelli said.

The day also included a ceremony for the 70th anniversary of the regiment’s reactivation that featured remarks from Sen. Tom Cotton and Rep. Warren Davidson.

The regiment has been serving since 1784, and known as the Old Guard since 1847. It was reactivated in 1948 during the Cold War.

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