An honor guard, or ceremonial guard, is a ceremonial unit, usually military in nature and composed of volunteers who are carefully screened for their physical ability and dexterity. Only those persons who are highly motivated and maintain exceptionally high standards of appearance and conduct and show aptitude for ceremonial duty are likely to be considered.
A primary role for honor guards in the United States and some other countries is to provide funeral honors for fallen comrades and to guard national monuments. An honor guard may also serve as the "guardians of the colors" by displaying and escorting the national flag on ceremonial occasions at official state functions. Finally, honor guards usually provide detachments for review by visiting heads of state. Honor guards also serve in the civilian world for fallen police officers and other civil servants. Persons serving in this capacity may or may not be designated, meaning they may not be assigned to serve each and every time there is a funeral in their jurisdiction.
In the U.S., military honor guards may serve as ambassadors to the public, presenting a positive image of their service, and assisting with the recruiting effort.
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Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers (Argentina). Still serving as part of Argentine Army. They are the presidential guard and ceremonial companion. Two unmounted grenadiers are step in front of the Pink House (la Casa Rosada) as symbol of ceremonial and honor guard.
The Brazilian armed forces and police have several troops for ceremonial usages. The most important of them is the Brazilian president's honor guard. It is composed of the 1st Guards Cavalry Regiment (1o Regimento de Cavalaria de Guardas - RCG, in Portuguese) - "Independence Dragoons", the Presidential Guard Battalion (Batalhão da Guarda Presidencial - BGP, in Portuguese) and the Cayenne Battery (formally, the Historical Cayenne Battery - Bateria Histórica Caiena, in Portuguese).
National Guards Unit (Bulgarian: Национална гвардейска част) are guarding President's office in Sofia.
The Canadian guard of honour comes from all branches of the Canadian Forces. The Canadian guard of honour participates in ceremonies such as Canada Day and in carrying fallen soldiers from transport planes arriving from Afghanistan.
Honor guards, as known as Combined Honor Guard of the People's Liberation Army, are provided by the Capital Garrison in Beijing. They marched as the first division in the military parade of 50th anniversary and 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.
The 37th Infantry Presidential Guard Battalion, composed of 5 companies, a historical company and 1 artillery battery plus a military band, a fanfare trumpet section and Corps of Drums, is the President of Colombia's honor guard service regiment. It's stationed at the Casa de Narino in Bogota.
In Croatia, the Honor Guard Battalion serves as the guard of honor. The Honor Guard Battalion performs protocol tasks for the needs of top level state and military officials, as well as tasks related to the protection and security of the Commander-in-Chief (President of the Republic of Croatia). It consist up to 300 members.
Ceremonial duties are usually served by the Castle Guard, a special unit of the armed forces of the Czech Republic, organized under the Military Office of the President of the Czech Republic, directly subordinate to the President of the Republic.
The Honor Guard in Hungary was the MH 32. Budapest Őr- és Díszezred (HDF 32nd Budapest Guard and Ceremonial Regiment) until 31 December 2006, than disbanded. From 1 January 2007 was the Ceremonial Battalion branch, part of the MH Támogató Dandár (MH TD, HDF Support Brigade) until 31 December 2010. Converted from 1 January 2011 to Nemzeti Honvéd Díszegység (National Home Defense Ceremonial Band) as part of the MH TD and achieved the service from 25 April.[1][2]
In India, the Guard of Honour is provided by men drawn from three services of the Indian military. The Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
The Macedonian Guard (македонска гарда, makedonska garda) is part of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia which is mainly used for ceremonial purposes. It is the personal guard of the President of the Republic of Macedonia. The National Guard an be often seen near the presidential palace, during official visits of foreign presidents or delegations, ceremonies and during the days of the flag. In 2010 the Ministry of Defence proposed and designed new uniforms for the guards. Both, the old and the new uniforms, are based on the uniforms of IMRO revolutionaries with some details of the other periods of the history of the Republic of Macedonia. Influence over the new design had the revolutionary Dedo Iljo Maleshevski, ancient Macedonian uniforms and the uniforms of the Macedonian regiment from Ukraine from 19 c.[3]
In France, the Republican Guard serves as the guard of honor.
The Honor Guard in Mexico is made up of members selected from the Navy, Army or Air force. Some of their duties include protection of the Mexican flag in Zocalo, and the raising and lowering of it. Also, are those who are selected from another scout (Mexican historic society: Eagle warrior and Cougar Warriors, schools, Sports centers, celebrities, etc...)
The Honor Guard in Poland is the Batalion Reprezentacyjny Wojska Polskiego (Ceremonial Battalion of Polish Forces) from 1 January 2001.[4]
In Sri Lanka, the Guard of Honour is provided by men drawn from three services of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. The Sri Lanka Army, the Sri Lanka Navy and the Sri Lanka Air Force. During the colonial era the Lascarins provided the local honor guards apart from British Army, British Indian Army or Ceylon Defence Force personal.
Honor guard service is carried out by all units of the Swedish Armed Forces although the Life Guards regiment (Livgardet) accounts for the main part of the honor guards.
The Royal Guards (Högvakten) at the Stockholm Palace and the Drottningholm Palace is the honor guard to the King of Sweden. The service is carried out by the Life Guards as well as other units of the Swedish Armed Forces including the Home Guard and other voluntary defence organisations.
The Grenadier company of the Life Guards is used as a honor guard at state visit welcoming ceremonies. A detachment of grenadiers is also used as honor guard at the opening of the Swedish parliament (Riksdagen), when an ambassador meets with the King at an audience to present his credentials and when the King attends an annual meeting of one of the Royal Academies.
Drabantvakt ("Royal Bodygard"), commonly known as Karl XI:s drabanter ("The Bodyguard of Charles XI") and Karl XII:s drabanter ("The Bodyguard of Charles XII") is a ceremonial guard used at state occasions such as state visits, investiture of a monarch, royal weddings and funerals etc. The guard was formed in 1860 based on historical royal bodyguards. The design of the uniforms of the guard is inspired by, but not identical to uniforms used during the reign of Carles XI and Charles XII respectively. The guard consists of 24 soldiers and one officer selected from the Life Guards.
In the Republic of China (Taiwan), the honor guard is provided by members from the three service branches of the Republic of China Armed Forces, including the ROC Army, ROC Navy and the ROC Air Force, usually present at the places as follows:
Each military branch has its own honor guard: Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Most state national guard units have a ceremonial guard as well. The official honor guard of every branch is based in Washington, D.C., though nearly every military installation will have its own honor guard for local ceremonies and events. The honor guard units in Washington, D.C. represent the military as a whole and the United States as a nation, and perform numerous ceremonies on behalf of the President of the United States.
Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknowns is guarded by members of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard).
Honor guards are present at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, all coming from the three services of the Vietnam People's Army.
