At exactly 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, amidst pouring rain, U.S. Army Capt. Henry Newstrom walked in measured steps onto the plaza to conduct the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Although Newstrom had performed this ritual more than 180 times during his tenure as commander of the guard, this time was different.
As he had always done, Newstrom asked the crowd to remain silent and standing for the ceremony, saluted the Tomb and inspected the oncoming guard. But instead of leaving the plaza after the changing of the guard, he stopped as Spc. Shane Burke walked to the center of the plaza and asked for everyone’s attention before making a special announcement.
“The ceremony that you have just witnessed was Capt. Henry Newstrom’s last guard change at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,” Burke said. He added that Newstrom had served honorably for the last 19 months as commander of the guard, and that all the Tomb Guards wished him “good luck and Godspeed” in his future endeavors.
Newstrom then returned to the center of the plaza, where his wife, Seona, greeted him with five white roses. Leaving one with her, he marched with razor precision to each of the Unknownsand laid a rose at the base of each. His mother, Malinda, in the crowd with his father, Jim, cried. Neither of them had ever seen their son perform his duties at the Tomb. Once he finished, Newstrom escorted his wife from the Tomb for the last time.
Later, in the warm and dry Memorial Chapel, First Lt. Sean Paul Stolarski—who will replace Newstrom as the commander of the guard—presided over Newstrom’s farewell ceremony. Stolarski thanked Newstrom’s wife and family “for supporting Henry during his time in the Army, and here at the Tomb.”
Founder and former President of the Society of the Honor Guard Richard Azzaro, told Newstrom, “You will be known and remembered for your character and your service and sacrifice as you performed America’s sacred duty never to forget.”
Newstrom concluded the ceremony by thanking his wife and family, the soldiers he led during his tenure, and the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and ANC leaders for their guidance and example. Despite the long hours and hard work, he said, he loved and took pride in his unit’s mission. “Since the first guard was placed here 99 years ago, our standard has been perfection,” he said, “and that standard will never fall.”