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.
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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Argentina
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.
Brazil
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).
Canada
Ceremonial Guards are present at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.
India
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.
People's Republic of China
Honor guards are provided by the People's Liberation Army at the Tiananmen Square in Beijing for the flag-raising ceremony. They march across the Chang'an Avenue to the Tiananmen Square.
Republic of China
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:
- The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei
- The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei
- The Martyr's Shrine in Taipei
- The Martyr's Shrine in Kaohsiung
- The Cihu Presidential Burial Place in Taoyuan
- The Daxi Presidential Burial Place in Taoyuan
United States
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 the U.S. 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard).
Vietnam
Honor guards are present at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi.
See also
External links
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