‘Old Guard’ Ready For Inauguration

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Chris Maddaloni / Staff
Members of the 3rd Infantry Regiment -- better known by their nickname, The Old Guard -- coordinate Jan. 7 at Ft. Myer with other branches of the military about plans for the upcoming inaugural events for President-elect Barack Obama.



‘Old Guard’ Ready For Inauguration

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Jan 18, 2009 9:01:05 EST

At the presidential inauguration Tuesday, what some call “the ultimate change of command” will be heavily manned by soldiers of the “Old Guard,” the 3rd Infantry Regiment at Fort Myer, Va.

About 700 soldiers, almost half the regiment’s full strength, will be on duty along with thousands of men and women from the other services for the midday swearing-in of President-elect Barack Obama and the parade in Washington, D.C., both of which are expected to draw record crowds.

“We’re pretty much rolling out everything we have,” said Maj. Steve Cole, spokesman for the Old Guard, which has known about this mission since the last inauguration four years ago and began planning for it in October.

Leading up to the ceremony, Old Guard soldiers will escort VIPs to their seats in the shadow of the Capitol dome. Then, as soon as the new president utters the words “so help me God,” the Old Guard’s Salute Gun Platoon will perform a 21-gun salute with its vintage World War II anti-tank guns.

The soldiers also will be part of joint colors teams along the parade route and at the White House and a joint honors cordon to flank the new president.

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