What is an Honor Guard?

Again, as a disabled veteran this is always a tough time of year for me. I think of friends lost and wounded. I think of my 18-year-old cousin who was killed in Vietnam after being there for only four months. What did we gain? Nothing.

But I honor his memory as he gave me the freedom to sit here and write this story without being thrown in a gulag somewhere.

I guess that is what Veteran's Day means to me. It is a reflection on those who have given the last full measure for our country. I always make sure to visit a Veteran's Cemetery on Veteran's Day. And I always tell people if you are having a bad day, visit a Veteran's Hospital and I think you will be cheered right up.

As a veteran I have been asked several times what is the difference between an honor guard and a color guard? Well, that's a good question.

I served as an Honor Guard leader while I was stationed at U.S. Coast Guard Group, St. Petersburg, Fla., from 1998 through 2001. I trained personnel to march in color guard events and to perform honor guard ceremonies.

The main difference is that an honor guard primarily performs ceremonial duties for fallen service members, such as military funerals with flag folding, rifle salutes and flag presentation to the surviving spouse.

A color guard presents and protects the national or organizational flag at official events like parades or sporting events. An honor guard's role is more focused on paying tribute and performing solemn rituals for an individual, whereas a color guard's role is about the formal presentation of colors.

Some of the key duties of an honor guard include conducting flag-folding ceremonies and presenting the flag to the next of kin. They also perform a rifle volley and play "Taps". They will also escort a casket to the funeral plot.

Some key duties of the color guard include marching in parades, presenting the flag at the beginning of sporting events and carrying the flag during ceremonies to represent their branch of service.

People ask, why is it called a color guard? Well, the term originated from a military tradition where a "color guard" was a specific group of soldiers tasked with protecting the regimental or national flags, known as "colors". Over the years, this military role evolved into the modern marching band and performance activity where members use colorful flags, swords, and rifles to add visual storytelling to their shows.

The tradition of using rifles dates to when military color guards protected the national colors or flags.

At a military funeral, shots fired are usually part of a three-volley salute after the death of a veteran. There are seven rifles that fire three shots each and this is where the 21-gun salute started. However, this is a common misconception. A 21-gun salute is a different, more formal ceremony for heads of state or national holidays and is performed with artillery, not rifles.

The three bullets fired at a military funeral symbolize the words duty, honor, and country. Historically, the practice originated from a time when combatants would temporarily cease fighting to retrieve their dead. The firing of three volleys signaled the fallen had been cared for and that the battle could resume.

During a military funeral service, three shell casings are given to the next of kin, with the three casings representing "duty, honor, and sacrifice". At modern funerals, the three volleys mean that the service member has been honored by their comrades and can now rest in peace.

One of the toughest jobs I ever had in the military was being the honor guard leader and presenting the flag to the surviving spouse. After the honor guard folded the flag into a triangle, my job was to kneel in front of the spouse and as I presented the flag to them, I had to say, "On behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Coast Guard, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service." I had to be very professional and then render a slow salute. You cannot show emotion. And almost every time the spouse bursts out in tears and begins to cry. It is a very solemn and emotional ceremony. The next of kin is not expected to salute in return; a simple "thank you" or nod is appropriate.

I have attended hundreds of funerals for military veterans in Bushnell, Florida, at the National Veterans Cemetery. Once you have attended one of these ceremonies, there is no way you can never disrespect a fallen veteran. I was very proud to have been able to perform this duty in the service of my country. And someday, someone will do the same for me.