Veteran Marine Staff Sgt. Tim Chambers, also known as "the saluting Marine,” honored war veterans on Memorial Day weekend by standing at attention for 24 hours straight in Washington.
Dressed in a Marine uniform, U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Chambers, 44, stood at a concrete median at the corner of Constitution Avenue and 23rd Street in Northwest D.C., behind the Lincoln Monument, at noon on Sunday—a day before Memorial Day.
Chambers has completed the feat every year since 2002 to raise awareness about veteran suicide. This year, he held a salute lasting 22 minutes in his first hour standing to represent the average number of American veterans who take their own lives daily.
“I did not go to war and I feel like I need to honor the eternal sacrifice of those that did and those who didn’t come home,” Chambers added.
“This is something that he needs to do every year and I support him for it,” she said. “No matter what it takes, we get out here.”
More than 100 motorcycle riders still drove by on Sunday afternoon to watch Chambers, the news outlet reported.
“This is something that came from my heart, from my own accord,” Chambers said during a live stream as he approached his 18th hour standing at attention.