Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Honor Guard”
This article is written as a thought-leadership piece designed to bridge the gap between respect for first responders and the non-negotiable standards of military protocol. Its goal is not to diminish anyone’s service, but to defend institutional identity and restore ritual integrity in public ceremonies.
Introducing the Updated Training Framework For years, I have provided guidance, manuals, and critiques to help Honor Guard programs improve their performance. Departments across the country—and internationally—have used these resources to build teams, correct procedures, and elevate their ceremonial standards. However, one consistent issue has remained: Most programs do not struggle because they lack information.They struggle because they lack structure. …
It’s important to clarify the distinction of the Melophori (Mēlophoroi), or Apple Bearers, from the larger body of the Persian “Immortals” as historical sources have revealed.
In the grand narratives of ancient history, figures like Roman Emperors, Persian Kings, and Macedonian conquerors stand at the apex of power. Yet, their authority—and often their very lives—rested in the hands of their most trusted and feared subordinates: the elite bodyguards. Far more than mere soldiers, units such as the Roman Praetorian Guard, the Persian Apple Bearers, and the …
Not long ago, I received a comment attempting to justify a photograph of a folded flag partially unfolded and draped over an urn.
For more than a decade, one particular competition scenario has generated persistent confusion among instructors, judges, and competitors alike: the U-shaped posting route commonly used in Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion (AL) color guard competitions.
When an Airman or Guardian dies, the nation makes a visible promise: no one will be forgotten, and every honor will be rendered with precision, dignity, and certainty.
That promise is not symbolic. It is operational. And today this duty is in danger of not being met.
This article outlines the ceremony’s historical development and the origins of the specific ceremonial units that participate. It is written for instructors, historians, ceremonial planners, and drill and ceremonies professionals.
This question arises frequently at ceremonies, particularly when a chaplain invites those present to bow their heads. The answer depends on a critical distinction: who is acting as an individual—and who is acting as a representative.
The photo at the top of the page shows what is called a “Committal Shelter” or a “Committal Pavilion”. For a more modern, utilitarian structure, “Committal Terrace” is also sometimes used to describe a paved, roofed area specifically set aside for the service to take place away from the mud or grass of the grave site. Why these are used …