Actually, I think they’re the “President’s Own” 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment, the “Old Guard” that also provides guards for the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetary. IIRC the 3d has a colonial color guard team, and this is they.
When I was in the Army I had a friend who had been stationed with the Old Guard. Very impressive guy, and he could put on an amazing performance with his rifle, spinning it, tossing it around like a professional baton twirler. Old Guard is definitely a privileged position not just anyone can get.
One of the comments on that page said "especially nice to see jake gyllenhaal was having a good time… " which I found really funny, mainly since I thought the guy looked more like Kirk Acevado myself…
That is correct. They apparently either just preceded or just followed the fifers and drummers in the parade, and my friend thought they were the same group.
So which one are you talking about. The only one who looks like he’s having a really good time (to me) is the second guy from the right, who I think looks kind of like Damon Wayans – when he’s playing that homeless guy on In Living Color.
Wow. I know that corner.
It’s truly impressive duty.
Every year, my K of C 4th degree assembly would lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns. We would select four of our sharpest color guard members (well, truth is, we would select THREE of our sharpest members and the Faithful Navigator, the head of the assembly, would always select himself as the fourth, regardless of his skills). We would always be briefed just before the event by the Relief Commander (an ultra-serious, ultra-squared-away mid-twenties E-6) and he made sure the event went flawlessly.
The year I was Faithful Navigator, I appointed as color corps commander a retired 30-year veteran who had been a Command Sergeant Major. He got to trading stories with the Relief Commander and after the event concluded, we were all offered a tour of the Tomb Guard Platoon’s quarters and a running dialog on the history of the duty and its particulars – we learned, for example, that the Tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and has been since since 1937; that they walk precisely 21 steps back and forth each time, and you can see the marks left on the mat from endless repetition of that march; and that they can change guards by silent command, with each step mapped out to the precise number of “clicks” given by the shoes’ metal plates at the heel.
It was intense. Very impressive.
LOL - I SAID my family would have something to say on the topic! Here is what I got from my son via e-mail:
*Ok, the musicians wore red with blue facings because they wore opposite colors of the unit they were with. If the infantry of the unit had worn blue coats with buff facings, then the musicians would have worn buff coats with blue facings, et cetera. Because the infantry (the men with guns) wore blue coats with red facings, the musicians wore red coats with blue facings. What you are seeing is a company of infantry.
It is hard to say what the man with the sash and blue trim is. He could be either sergeant or a low-ranking officer, like a lieutenant or captain. The sash is a solid color, which in the British army would denote officership (as opposed to sergeants who wore a red sash with the color of the facings down the center). I would also point to the wig, which was of a style used by officers, gentlemen, and was too fancy for sergeants and enlisted men. However, everyone seems to be wearing these wigs, which is a breach in accuracy.
The trim on the hat is unusual. In the British army, sergeants wore silver trim on their hats, while officers wore trim that matched the metalic lace of their regiment (either silver or gold). I do not know what blue means.
The polearm he is carrying could be either a halberd or a spontoon (a short spear carried by officers).
At the debated man’s throat, he appears to have ruffles coming out from his coat. A ruffled shirt was a sign of wealth, which would indicate officership.
The sword at his waist appears to be a hangar, a short, cutting sword carried by sergeants and many other NCOs, as opposed to a smallsword, a light thrusting weapon carried by officers. This is the single strongest argument in placing him as a sergeant.
I must note that the gloves are like nothing I remember in a uniform, the sergeant/officer has two pocket buttons undone, and the soldiers are all looking about instead of staring ahead like good soldiers.
I hope this helps, but I am rather confused by that man as well.*
I’d send him another e-mail clarifying that these guys are an infantry regiment, but he’s at college and is supposed to be studying! 
Very cool pictures.
In the first picture, the second guy from the left in the front row looks a wee bit like Commander Norrington f rom Pirates of the Caribbean.
I think he means the second guy from the left. You are right, he does actually look somewhat concerned.
Commander Norrington could work too…
I’m sure your correct, but honestly these guys look like anything BUT steely-eyed guardians of the republic. He must have just caught them at exactly the wrong moment for them, if also a great moment for a photo.
Flickr has also included his photo among the “Explore” Jan 20 photo array.
I like that second picture. One guy, bottom of the picture, second from the left, looks like he’s taking a deep breath and breathing in the change. Kind of like when you get a fresh breeze on a stuffy summer day.
That first photo is really wonderful.
Awesome photo indeed, but I’m afraid I was the one leaving a poor impression – I was describing the specific guys who have tomb guard duty; they’re a part of the Old Guard. The color corps members seen in the pic are ALSO a part of the Old Guard, but they’re not the same unit.
Asked my wife the 18th-century seamstress. She says the hearts are purely decorative, and has no idea why hearts instead of triangles, etc. Also confirmed that the flaps were unhooked and worn down at times.
I realized you were all dying to know. . .
A little update. Barry has been contacted by… wait for it… Al Jazeera, which is interested in doing a story about his inauguration photos. He agreed, though without the condition I suggested – they may not caption any of his photos with the phrase, “Death to America”.
Also, Barry is thankful for viewers from SDMB. Around a thousand people linked to his pictures from the SDMB and this thread. He has something called a Flickr Pro account, and can get stats and info on his viewers, including where they came from.