Difference Between Color Guard & Honor Guard
Honor and color guards are commonly seen groups at certain events. When the National Anthem is played, a parade is begun, official events occur and most especially to honor our fallen heroes, the color and honor guards will be there. Presenting colors and showing honor to those we respect are the main purpose behind these units, most of them military in origin. Some of the duties are similar, but the two are not one and the same.
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Purpose
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An honor guard and a color guard may look similar in appearance, and some of the duties they perform are the same. However, the purpose behind these units is very different. Colors, or flags, are often carried by both, but this is the primary job of the color guard, to present colors of a country, armed service or organization at a presentation or ceremony. The honor guard presents colors, but the main focus of duties in this unit is to present a contingent to bear honors at ceremonies, for the fallen and visiting dignitaries, among other duties.
Honors
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Honor guard members in the military are screened carefully for physical ability and dexterity. Among the more notable honor guard duties in the United States is to serve the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. These serious minded and heavily trained individuals serve as pall bearers for the funerals of our fallen service members, present a guard contingent at ceremonies and for visiting dignitaries or heads of state and are ambassadors to the public for the armed forces. They remind the general public that honor and dignity are important themes and stand at attention when duty calls to honor those worthy.
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Colors
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Resplendent in regalia and proudly bearing the colors of a country, team, organization or armed service, a color guard is there to display those colors with professionalism and pride. There is often an armed element of a color guard, but generally these weapons are for display purposes and often performance oriented. A color guard leads a unit of military in a parade, presents the colors of countries as multinational events and leads dignitaries into a ceremony or event with a color presentation. Members place the flags and perform ceremonial display duties in regards to all aspects of presenting colors with pride and honor.
Performances and Dual Duties
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Color guards and honor guards drill heavily to execute precise maneuvers and protocol when it comes to ceremonial events. The honor guard often drills in more solemn and precise movements of changing of the guard and rifle handling. The color guard drills in impressive shows of marching in unison, drill routines and presenting the colors. There are more official-type color guards, but some, such as those representing a college or team, are oriented to showmanship rather than official events.
Smaller Contingents
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Fire departments, police departments and other such organizations often have a guard contingent that does double duty in presenting colors and carrying out honor guard responsibilities. The members may carry the colors for an event, and also be the same group that will present arms for the rifle salute and be pall bearers at a fallen comrade's funeral. These units train in a wide range of basic duties, such as standing in turn at the casket during a funeral, how to present the colors at an official event and other community-based situations.
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References
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