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Never Forget: The Old Guard Remembers 9/11

It was 61 years ago that on November 22, 1963 President and Commander in Chief John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas Texas. This is the US Navy production of the state funeral of Pres. Kennedy on the Saturday, Sunday and the march to Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, Nov. 25th. It is 43 minutes from Friday to sundown Monday and it is the best video for the buck of the many vids I've watched of the funeral day to day and that I attended.

It was televised live by the only three private broadcast networks of the time in an awesome display of their technical prowess that was organized on the spot.

I went to DC and attended everything with my lifetime and dear buddy from Princeton Army ROTC Steve Brown. Dr. Steve is retired too after a magnificent career in education that included dean of faculty at Leslie College in Cambridge MA alongside Harvard across the River Charles from Boston in the Back Bay.

Steve and I were on the cemetery hillside to the left of the gravesite as it's viewed from the camera where we watched the entire burial ceremony. As everyone left Steve and I stayed just standing there when Bill Metzler the cemetery superintendent alone stepped forward to press the button that lowered our slain president and commander in chief into his grave. That's when Steve and I left. A couple of years later I was in The Old Guard as OIC at the gravesite which then was a simple white picket fence and still with long lines of mourners. We had to keep 'em moving I'm afraid because there were always so many who wanted to just stand there to pray and to weep.




This excellent video that encapsulates the entire state funeral opens with some preaching that focuses on the unseen Jackie Kennedy in the East Room of the WH late on the Friday night Saturday mourning placing her wedding ring on Jack then closing the casket due to his face and head wounds and despite the best efforts of the premier funeral home in Washington Gawler & Sons. This was done in private.

Saturday morning the joint service casket team led by The Old Guard premier casket team leader Sgt. John Felder of Company E Honor Guard Company placed the casket on The Old Guard Caisson for its march to the Capitol Rotunda. Old Guard SFC Dick Hughes to whom I owe so much stationed Navy ceremonial guards bearing the 56 state and territorial flags along the WH driveway.

Old Guard SFC Pete Holder was NCOIC of the casket bearers actual and honorary from the Joint Service Ceremonial Guards in Washington and who marched alongside the caisson. 1LT Sam Byrd RIP Vietnam of Company E premier casket bearer platoon of The Old Guard was the OIC we see marching at the rear and our right of the caisson formation and separately. Pete Holder RIP was platoon sergeant of 1st platoon of Company E Honor Guard Company of The Old Guard who founded the Army Drill Team in 1956 and stayed with it until he retired as a MSG. Richard "Pete" Holder set the drill standard for all the services honor guard drill teams.

While The Old Guard is the official escort platoon in state funerals, the Navy ceremonial guards in Washington were the escort platoon because JFK had been in the Navy in the Pacific in WW2 -- the Navy Ceremonial Guard escort marching ahead of the casket was awesome. Navy Seaman Eddie Nemuth bore the flag of the POTUS marching ten paces behind the caisson doing a splendid job of it; we see that Nemuth stood for an hour and a half outside St. Matthew's Cathedral during the high funeral mass then trooped on to the cemetery.

From St. Matthews Cathedral past the Lincoln Memorial and Bridge is the stirring and inspiring march Onward Christian Soldiers with the colonel commanding The Old Guard leading the entire procession with his staff of commanders of each service ceremonial guard and the full complement of the Marine Corps Band.

At the cemetery the premier Old Guard firing party of 3rd platoon of Company E Honor Guard Company that I later commanded fired three volleys after The Old Guard Presidential Salute Battery fired its 21 gun salute. The Air Force "missing man formation" was followed by the flyover of Air Force One.

It was a really awful time that was only minimally endurable largely because of the pomp and circumstance of an official state funeral and all its trappings and which Jackie gave direction to. It was for instance Jackie who insisted on the penetrating drums only on the Saturday morning march from the WH to the Capitol Rotunda. It gave Jackie some satisfaction that JFK got the whole nine yards of a state funeral. Rub it in their noses kind of thing.
 
The oldest unit in the British Army is the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC), established by Henry VIII in 1537, making it the oldest regiment in the British Army.:

Hackstons' Black Tie Ball at The Honourable Artillery Company​


 
Rich2018 said:
The oldest unit in the British Army is the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC), established by Henry VIII in 1537, making it the oldest regiment in the British Army.:

Hackstons' Black Tie Ball at The Honourable Artillery Company​


Click to expand...

Which has nothing to do with 9/11.
 

Episode 7 | The U.S. Army's Twilight Tattoo For Video​

Presented By the Military District of Washington D.C. | Joint Force-National Capital Region


Troops of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Regiment | The Old Guard of the Army
A Regiment of the U.S. 5th Army | U.S. Northern Command | Defense of North America

2.4K Views | Premiered Jun 23, 2021



Welcome back for the 2021 Twilight Tattoo web series. In episode 7, we'll see the post-Vietnam Army's success in the Gulf War and watch the Army adapt to the challenges of a post-9/11 world. Filmed onsite at the National Museum of the United States Army NMUSA at Ft. Belvoir Va, Military District of Washington. Narration is presented by Soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Battalion, MDW.






Maj. Gen. Zana | Tomb Sentinel #354 | Revisits Tomb of the Unknown Soldier On Retirement​

1,421 Views | Jul 15, 2024



Maj. Gen. William L. Zana, director of International Affairs with the National Guard Bureau, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired after taking a final watch at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He is the only Tomb Sentinel to ever become a general officer. MG Zana joined the Tomb Guard Platoon from Company E Honor Guard Company of the 1st Battalion of The Old Guard as a Specialist 4th Class. He completed his two year voluntary tour as SGT E-5 Commander of The Third Relief, which are the tallest Tomb Sentinels. This Final Watch at the TUS capped his 37-year career, which began with his service as a Tomb Guard in 1989. Zana's career included multiple deployments and high-level positions, and he reflects on his time in the Army with deep appreciation for those who served and sacrificed.

Join us as we witness retiring Maj. Gen. Zana's emotional final mission as he stands guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns with his Army daughter Belinda. This solemn duty holds great significance, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Watch as Maj. Gen. Zana pays his respects and reflects on his time serving as a dedicated Guard. Don't miss this touching moment of tribute and gratitude.





Killer Stuff Folks...

U.S. Marine Corps West Coast Composite Band | Tournament of Roses Parade Bandfest​

Pasadena California | Band Members Selected Each Marine Corps Facility on the West Coast​

Semper Fidelis/Always Faithful | Marine Corps Hymn | Jackie Robinson Stadium​

345,524 Views



Can't go wrong with this because this is as good as it gets. Each Rose Bowl Parade features the US Marine Corps Composite West Coast Band that is assembled with selected band members of USMC stations on and proximate to the West Coast. It definitely is a huge hit and a major highlight of the Parade and the Bandfest in this video that precedes it at the Jackie Robinson Stadium. Comments some of which are below are precious.

**I've probably watched this 25 times and I get motivated each time. I'm proud to be a Marine and I'm so proud of how our Marine Corps Bands represents us. Semper Fi.

**They truly ARE one of the only "bands" that can absolutely kick your ass; they're just too disciplined to do so. Many years in drum corps, and I've never seen these guys outplayed yet.

**unbelievable. look at the way they take a corner. perfecley in tune . bass drums as loud as any heavy metal band . the real bad ass is the leader w thin baton. absolute perfection . hope these guys read my post . makes me so proud to be an american

**Everyone loves this band,I wait for the rose parade every year just to hear them march by, love it!

**The school of music is 6 months long and is there to make sure you are proficient at your instrument, but the instructors are well aware that many are just coming out of high school and haven't player there horns in months or as was in my case, 6 months because of boot camp and MCT, but that is why the school is so long and the primary focus is in the practice room on the horn.

**The 2 best military bands in the world are Marines. USMC and Royal Marines Band.
 

High school in Taiwan puts on Nazi-themed Christmas parade​



Nobody told them ?
 
8 years ago. Nor are the students military cadets.

Nothing of it since.

So the knowing post is much like the event itself which is intended to shock and despoil.

The principal quit which is a good precedent for doing this sort of obscenity. Vacate the premises of the crudity as presented.
 

That such a Nazi themed parade could ever happen this millennium, just beggars belief.
 
The Christmas and New Year Holidays is not the best time to post this kind of offensive and disgusting event video. Or at the time of Hanukkah. Posting it at this time is ill considered to say the least. It's a failure of taste and judgement. Insensitive to the spirit and mood of the Holiday Season. It is a shameful act by the shameless. An apology is in order.
 
So let's get some Brits into the thread who have class, dignity and charm....and taste....

"Land of Hope & Glory" & "Auld Lang Syne" | Annual BBC Last Night Of The Proms Concert​

Royal Albert Hall | Hyde Park | London England | 1.1 Million Views​






Rule Britannia | Last Night of the Proms | Annual BBC Concert​

Royal Albert Hall | 5.8 Million Views​



The Lady whose name I didn't get but who is famous in the UK portrays Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson who won the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 against the French and Spanish Fleets invasion force of Napoleon Bonaparte who wanted to conquer England. Admiral Nelson lost his life to a sniper on his flagship HMS Victory but he died knowing his fleet was victorious. The Royal Navy lost one ship of its 27 ships while Napoleon's fleets lost 20 ships of their 33. The victory was total and complete. Never again would Britain be invaded.



HM Royal Marines Massed Bands | March From Buckingham Palace​

924,842 Views



Massed bands of HM Royal Marines march up The Mall to Horse Guards Gate after their Command Performance at Buckingham Palace in 2022.
 

Royal Navy Field Gun Competition 1988​

I used to do security at this.

 
Despoilers despoil. With no regard.

Never to apologize. Never a regret.

The law unto themselves and only. Beyond contrition.
 

I thought the thread was "Never Forget: The Old Guard Remembers 9/11".

Derailing your own thread?
 
In war fraternizing with the enemy is treason for which the ultimate penalty is applied, which as we know is death.

Yet at Christmas 1914 and early on in WW I, in the trenches of Flanders Field in Belgium, British Army Soldiers and German Army Soldiers ventured from their trenches to unite as Soldiers in war and to give one another a Christmas greeting. The phenomenon began when the Brits heard German Soldiers in trenches no more that 30 yards away singing "Silent Night." The British Soldiers recognized the tune.

In the second video we hear a British Soldier say he popped his head above the trench and pulled himself back down again as is the practice but that no German fired a shot as is the practice. Several other Brits popped their heads up to look and still no German Soldier fired a shot. Then the Brits saw German Soldiers standing visibly from the waist up waving their arms. The Brits and the Germans crawled out of their trenches to meet in No Man's Land to shake hands and sing together. They kicked a football/soccer ball around that the Germans had.

Several days later signs arrived from the British Army Field HQ that said, "All Soldiers Are To Remain In Their Trenches at All Times." So ha no British Soldiers had been shot by either the enemy or by their own commanders. Two enemies?


The first video is a magnificent work of art about it while the second video is more of a documentary of it.


Peace is Possible: The Christmas Truce of 1914 | World War I | The Great European War 1914-18​

149,618 Views



Dec 15, 2014 #peaceispossible

Amid the darkness of World War I came an isolated but beautiful moment where peace, faith, hope and humanity overcame the bonds of war, and, even if for a night and a day, peace became possible.




The Christmas Truce | What really happened in the trenches in 1914?​

461,814 Views



Dec 9, 2020 #christmastruce #ww1 #history

The Christmas Truce of the First World War has become a legendary story. The romantic image of enemies shaking hands in the middle of no man’s land, or playing football between the trenches, reoccurs again and again in popular culture. But how much of it is true? What do we really know about this moment of peace in a brutal war?

The photographs, letters and interviews in IWM’s collection tell the real story of the Christmas Truce. In this video, Head of Documents Anthony Richards explains how the truce came about, its impact on the course of the First World War and why it never happened again after 1914.

All the same however every Army has at least one numbnuts. I can think of two of 'em.
 

Riding a Fine Line​

Devising Sustainable and Healthy Operations for the Army Caisson Horses of Arlington National Cemetery
RAND Army Research Division



The Army has bought an $8 million range in the elegant Cavalier Country in Virginia for its 60 strong herd of caisson funeral horses that are getting a massive upgrade of facilities, breeding and training. Military Horsemen of The Old Guard will themselves be spruced up by higher qualifications to earn the unique to The Old Guard Badge of Military Horseman.





The regiment HQ has noted many times the Caisson Platoon Clydesdales and Percheron breeds are its greatest equipment expense. Each horse costs $25,000 just to be housed in the stable. Last year Congress mandated in the DoD annual authorization $30m to complete stable renovations, find the new farm facility, and to hire world class equine experts. Congress also prohibited the Army from disbanding the Caisson Platoon as some budget Hitlers had proposed.

"Horses are expensive to feed, house and train properly," said Army Maj. Gen. Trevor Bredenkamp who's CG of the Military District of Washington. “If we’re going to maintain them to the high level of fitness that they need, to be able to do this mission and not be injured, then that’s another part of the investment,” he said.




Sgt. Natalee Silva kisses a horse during a training exercise. Michael A. McCoy for The Washington Post



The MDW and TOG have already upshifted to hire all star equestrian experts. Chester Weber, a world champion competitive carriage driver has been hired to oversee equine training. David O’Connor who's a 2000 Olympic gold medalist equestrian has revamped the soldiers’ new riding program and Jim Westbrook, an expert in Clydesdale and Percheron draft breeds, scours hours of videos of sale horses to find suitable prospects for purchase. “I think in three years, it’s going to become a program the likes of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or the British, that other [similar] programs want to come and emulate,” Weber said.

Once a week Martin Kohnen who's the retired riding master for the RCMP flies in from Ottawa to train [horse] squads in “postilion” riding, an antiquated form of wagon pulling that the caisson platoon performs for each funeral. Three horses on the left are ridden while those on the right remain unmounted, meaning riders must get their own mounts and the horse next to them to walk in the same direction. “It takes years to become proficient,” Kohnen said of the postilion work. “Here, they’ve got weeks.”

What’s required: A horse whose back isn’t too long nor legs so straight as to create health ailments down the line. One that arrives somewhat trained in three specialties — riding, wagon pulling and a special form of guided walk called neck-reining. It must be a black gelding, a neutered male. And finally, it must be able to tolerate the stimuli of a state funeral through the streets of Capitol Hill when necessary.

"I believe the Army sincerely desires to fix most of the issues now facing the program,” Jon C. Kreitz, a retired Navy admiral and U.S. Equestrian Federation board member, told Congress last month. “But it will not succeed without a core group of permanently assigned commissioned military officer equestrian experts.

MSN

www.msn.com
 
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