Former Arlington Cemetery guard shares stories of the sacred grounds
By JIM BUSCH
For the Mon Valley Independent
David Mahlstedh gained a unique perspective about the history and traditions of Arlington National Cemetery during his time serving with the U.S. Army Honor Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
About 60 people gathered Thursday at Greenock United Methodist Church in Elizabeth Township for a program sponsored by the Elizabeth Township Historical Society to hear about Mahlstedh’s experiences at the nation’s hallowed ground in Virginia.
Mahlstedh, a funeral director with William Snyder Funeral Home in Irwin, has spoken on this subject at national funeral industry and other gatherings.
Mahlstedh grew up on a small farm in Minnesota and enlisted in the U.S. Army while still in high school. He served from 1990 to 1993, spending his entire time with the Third Infantry, the Army’s oldest unit, which is known as “The Old Guard.”
To read the rest of this story, please see a copy of Monday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at https://e.monvalleyindependent.com.
