WASHINGTON—Hurricane Sandy is expected to slam the East Coast and the federal government is shut down—but the U.S. servicemen who guard the outdoor Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery will remain on duty.

"They will not abandon their post," an employee who answered the Arlington Cemetery's phone confirmed to Yahoo News. He identified himself as "George," but was not authorized to speak on the record to the media.

The tomb, located just outside Washington, D.C., holds the remains of unidentified soldiers from World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

The elite sentinels selected to guard it have kept watch continuously at the site since 1948.

What are they actually guarding?

What are they actually guarding?

Against someone identifying the soldier.

Not sure how I feel about this. Mother Nature doesn't really care who you are or what you're protecting. Putting their lives on the line to protect a tomb....hmmmm. Mother Nature 2:5.

I think that is overstating the danger.

Right. No one dies when a hurricane hits. My bad.

Right. No one dies when a hurricane hits. My bad.

According to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, soldiers aren't necessarily guarding the tomb in the open air after the cemetery closes for extreme weather, which it has done due to Sandy. Instead, they wear camouflage and keep guard from a protected area.

The mail better be delivered, too!

That photo wasn't taken today. Taken during a storm in September. They've posted pics today during the Hurricane if you go to their FB group The Old Guard.

whatever. .02

Why don't they just tell everyone that they kept their post and then stay inside. It's not like anyone is going out there in a hurricane to verify.

According to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, soldiers aren't necessarily guarding the tomb in the open air after the cemetery closes for extreme weather, which it has done due to Sandy. Instead, they wear camouflage and keep guard from a protected area.