ARLINGTON, Va. — It's been guarded 24 hours a day, seven days a week since 1937.
Since that time, thousands of soldiers have walked the mat in from of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Of those soldiers, only two have come from Idaho, including Todd Carlson.
A 1986 graduate of Meridian High School, Carlson often speaks to groups about his time in the Army's Third U.S. Infantry Regiment.
Carlson says he had no intention of joining the military while he was in high school, but within 18 months of graduating, he was part of the most elite military units in the world.
It's also the oldest active infantry unit, which is why they call those chosen to watch over the Tomb the "Old Guard."
The Tomb of the Unknowns holds the remains of one soldier from each of the United States' biggest conflicts: World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
During his speeches, Carlson talks about his year and a half as a Tomb Guard at Arlington.
The 24-hour shifts, the 21 steps the guards take in front of the monument as part of their march and the 21 seconds they stand facing the tomb before turning and walking the other direction.
It's a routine they sometimes repeat for two hours at a time.
He says his favorite time at the cemetery was at night when it was completely quiet and it was just him and the unknowns.
The biggest takeaway for Carlson?
Learning the duty was bigger than himself...
"[I was] a young 21-year-old kid who thinks he's got the world by the tail but, you know, it's not about you, that's not why you're here. It took me a while to figure that out."
Carlson says veterans aren't much different than anybody else, they've just had a weird job for a while where they went and protected our country and our freedoms.
To him, Veterans Day is about thanking those that have served our country in any capacity.
So when you meet one, a hand-shake and a 'thank you' is all that is needed.