These guys and gals are amazing. Just amazing. How they stand as still as death for an hour is, I suppose, a part of some special training for such guards. And the changing of the guard is quite moving (pun intended). My question is this: what is the protocol in the event of some personal emergency such as an appendix attack, having to pee suddenly, feelings of dizziness, or what have you? Do the other guards move to assist? (Not with peeing, I’m sure, but maybe with fainting or something.) Is the guard removed/replaced? If so, does the replacement do the slow marching that they do when the guard routinely changes? I’d appreciate any light you can shed on this including whatever I might not have thought of. Thanks.
Once, while watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetary, I saw the incoming guard be turned away due to, apparently, an unsatisfactory uniform. It was not a pretty sight. I thought the rejected guard was going to cry.
Honor Guards do get training on how to handle themselves and their special surroundings that normal military folks do not. Muscle tension and relaxation to prevent legs falling asleep, body position to prevent fatigue, etc… As far as peeing, they don’t. Not while on that kind of duty. I still have excellent bladder control from my years in the Marines, and I barely did any parades and such. There is just a time and place for those things.
Being the Honor Guard for a former President lying in State is probably one of the highest duties for any Honor Guard, therefore the best ones would probably be selected. If you have diarrhea, you get a replacement before you go up. They very likely monitor their diet and fluids before standing guard to reduce the need for interruptions of their duty.
For an appendix attack, and random things like that, the procedure PROBABLY would be to take a knee. Another guard would replace you toot sweet, or the remaining guards would shift to provide coverage until that guard could be replaced.
Elaborate for us non-military types?
I’m guessing that it is the same as in football, Olent — dropping so that one knee touches the floor. Their training is truly remarkable. Not one sneeze. Nothing. They do blink, however. I suppose that can’t be eliminated.
Why? Did a vampire kill him?
Military uniform experts: What branches of the service were represented by the pall bearers?
Peace.
I was watching the casson procession yesterday, and it struck me to wonder… Do they give the horses an enema beforehand so that no “unpleasantness” will take place during the ceremony?
“Why do they put fences 'round cemetaries?
It’s the silliest thing, beyond doubt.
The folks outside don’t want to get in,
And the folks inside can’t get out!”
I did not see all of the media presentation, very little, in fact. But all of the uniformed military services should be represented, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard. If they had more I do not know who else would have been used. I have not seen very good shots of all five guarding the casket at the Rotunda, but I know I saw the Marine and soldier, and very probably the airman. The sailor and , um, “coastie?” were likely off camera.
Urg.
That last bit of doggerel is in response to Moirah’s post. Something happened to the quote.
Don’t know about pall bearers, but I just viewed the casket this morning myself.
They’re represented by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Marine Corps.
The Coast Guard is there as well. One guard is at each corner, and one is at the head of the casket. These move around from time to time. I can’t figure out the pattern, if any. But I do have one more question. Are these people guards in the true sense of the word? I mean, they move so slowly and deliberately that I wonder how they would react if some schmuck jumped the rope and ran at the casket with a knife while screaming political epithets.
Mr. Moto, I thought I saw five uniformed servicemembers surrounding the casket on an overhead photo, one at the head, two flanking him, and two spaced out maybe at 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock. You were there in person, thoght. Do you recall a fifth Guard?
They would react to stop any desecration. You’ll note the Marine Guard has a rifle, and I think there is a bayonette on it. Imposing. He would (likely) not stab the offender, but they will not stand there and allow someone to try to knock it over, for instance. They are Guards, first and foremost. Same reaction as you would get from the Guards at the Tomb of the Unknowns if someone tried some shit there, they do take their job very seriously.
Thanks for all the prompt answers, UncleBill. Fascinating stuff. I didn’t know you were a Marine. My hat’s off to you.
Thank you.
cnn.com has some slideshows on their front page right now, it appears there is more than one rifle in the Honor Guard, and it appears the pallbearers were all from the uniformed services, some services had more than one member particpating.
The guys in dark blue with gold insignia are Army.
The guys in mostly white are Navy.
The guys in very dark blue tunics with white trousers and white hats are Marine Corps.
The guys in lighter blue with blue hats and silver insignia are Air Force.
The guys in lighter blue with white hats and a big red-white-and-blue shoulder patch are Coast Guard.
IIRC, on CNN they said the guard was changed every 30 minutes. So in most adverse situations I would think you could just hold on until you’re done.
And they’re all carrying rifles, including the sailor, which struck me as odd for some reason.
During one of the early school integration protests (I think it was Little Rock, but I can’t really remember) there was news footage of the Army troops who were standing guard when the kids entered the school. One of the crowd was taunting the guards and he kept getting closer and closer, until finally he crossed the invisible line. Without any other kind of reaction, the guard raised his rifle, hit the guy in the jaw with the rifle butt, and then resumed standing motionless.