Honor Guard History

The Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard was created by the order of President John F. Kennedy in 1962. Prior to that, the Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, New Jersey was responsible for supplying a recruit platoon to fulfill Coast Guard commitments in National Ceremonies, and departing honors were rendered by the local unit. This not only proved expensive, but the recruits lacked essential experience and perfection. On March 5,1962, Admiral Alfred C Richmond, Commandant, United States Coast Guard, established the Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard. The Honor Guard, located at the United States Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Maryland, had 33 original members. In order to reduce the logistical problems involved in responding to ceremonial tasking in Washington DC from Baltimore, the Honor Guard moved its base of operations to the Coast Guard Radio Station in Alexandria, VA from Baltimore, MD in 1965. That facility is now known as the Coast Guard Telecommunication and Information Systems Command (TISCOM). TISCOM is located in Alexandria, VA and is still home to the Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard.