COMMAND HISTORY
With the seat of government in Washington and the presence of nearby Arlington National Cemetery and the Washington Navy Yard, it was clear to Navy leadership that there would always be special events, high-visibility funerals, and state funerals necessitating the participation of Sailors. The Washington Navy Yard held the largest number of Sailors of any command within the nation
al capital area. These men would be put into service for the various funerals and ceremonies in the area for many years. Initially, Sailors from the Receiving Station (nicknamed “Salvo” because of the gun factory at the Yard) were used for ceremonies after 1904. These personnel participated in events for the White House and Arlington National Cemetery, among others. While these Sailors were all expected to master infantry landing party skills, including close order drill, they were nowhere near as sharp as the dedicated ceremonial elements which the Army and Marine Corps had created. In 1931, the Navy began a successful experiment with a designated ceremonial detail of Sailors. Two years later in 1933, the Navy Ceremonial Guard was established as a permanent unit at the receiving station, with LT L. In 1935, the unit’s name was changed to match that of security units at other Navy bases, the Seaman Guard. In addition to its ceremonial duties, Sailors of this command performed actual guard duty at entrance gates and around the base. This secondary duty continued well into the 21st Century. A new receiving station opened at Anacostia in 1943 (now DC’s Anacostia Park at the foot of the Frederick Douglass Bridge), and the Seaman Guard was moved there. Furnari, a former enlisted Sailor who had served as a POW, was assigned as officer-in-charge, serving until 1948. He returned to the Guard as a lieutenant commander for his second tour as OIC in 1953. The barracks and dining facility now serving the Navy Ceremonial Guard are named Furnari Hall in his honor. Various changes came to the guard during the 1950s. Like the other services, the Ceremonial Guard established a Drill Team at this time. Additionally, the command’s name was changed back to U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard in 1951. With the closing of Naval Station Anacostia in 1959, the Guard was moved to the Anacostia Naval Air Station, an old seaplane base (now Joint Base Anacostia Bolling, its current home). While many have served in the Guard and then gone on to varied careers in the Navy, several former Guardsmen are worthy of note. Delbert Black, who would go on to become the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) served with the Navy Ceremonial Guard early in his career, SA Edward W. Nemeth is immortalized in images of John F. Kennedy’s funeral, where he marched behind the caisson carrying the President’s personal flag. In more recent years, ET1(SS) Brian A. Moss, who had just transferred from the Guard to the Pentagon, was killed in the attack on September 11, 2001. U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard includes the following specialty platoons:
HEADQUARTERS COMPANY
- Headquarters company consists of Details (Operations) and the Armory. Details is responsible for coordinating and scheduling all command missions, transportation, equipment, meals, ordinance, and other resources required to complete the commands primary mission. The Armory is responsible for all inert weapons used for command missions. ALPHA COMPANY
Training Platoon
- Prospective Guardsmen report to the USNCG from Recruit Training Command and are sent to Training Platoon. While in “Training” these Sailors learn everything about the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard to include: Drill (Marching), Uniform Preparation and the differences between the Ceremonial Uniforms and fleet uniforms, standing tight (standing motionless for long periods of time)
Marching Platoon
- Once a Sailor graduates from Training and is officially a Ceremonial Guardsman, they report to Marching Platoon. While in Marching Platoon new Guardsmen learn about the different specialty platoons and duty section watches. BRAVO COMPANY
Casket Bearers
- The Casket Bearers carry the remains of deceased Sailors and other service members to their final resting place. Whether it is in Arlington National Cemetery, or another veteran's cemetery, our commitment to the Navy's past and future is honoring those who have come before us. Casket Bearers participate in several variants of last rights ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery. Each bearer must demonstrate proficiency in carrying caskets during Standard and Full Honors funerals, working with the U.S. Army Caisson Teams, conducting dignified transfers for Active Duty fallen Sailors and serving as a Wreath Bearer in numerous memorial ceremonies. Along the way, weight training goals must be met as well as performance quotas. Firing Party
- The Firing Party conduct the three volleys, the signature honor of military funerals, executed by teams of seven Firing Party riflemen during every Navy Funeral at the Arlington National Cemetery. They also conduct the Gun Salutes at the Washington Navy Yard during Chief of Naval Operations arrival ceremonies, retirement ceremonies, and other dates commemorating significant events. The Firing Party endeavors to execute this salute in three seperate and clean volleys of seven rifles firing at the same exact moment, as though three cannon rounds were fired. One rhythmic motion of seven index fingers on seven seperate triggers is the product of the numerous motions performed immediately prior to the salute and the countless hours of training endured in order for each member to be eligible to perform as a rifleman in the Firing Party. CHARLIE COMPANY
Colors
- The Colors Platoon performs in numerous Joint Service and Navy ceremonies throughout the National Capital region each year carrying the National Color, foreign national colors, and the Navy Color in front of Navy personnel, dignitaries, and the public. A standard color guard is comprised of 4 members--a left rifleman, National Color, Navy Color, and a right rifleman. In addition to learning the specific drill and movements associated with the Navy Colors set, members of the Colors Platoon are required to learn a rigorous history behind the Navy Colors and the 30 battle streamers that accompany the flag and represent all of the wars and conflicts within the Service’s history. The U.S. Navy flag, or Navy Color, was approved by Executive Order 10812, signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on 24 April 1959. Six days later, on 30 April 1959, at the retirement ceremony for RADM Albert Mumma, Chief of the Bureau of Ships, at the David Taylor Model Basin in Carderock, MD, the new Navy flag was displayed publicly for the first time. It was a young seaman of the United States Navy Ceremonial Guard, SN James Ronan, who carried this flag for the first time as part of a joint Navy Marine Corps color guard. Drill Team
- Members of the Drill Team are experts in the art of close order drill, coordination, and timing. The Drill Team is invited to perform at a variety of events, including local and national holiday and armed forces observances, schools, universities, conventions, and Navy related events such as ship commissioning ceremonies, changes of command, and retirements. The Drill Team also performs for numerous foreign dignitaries at the Historic Tingey House, home to the Chief of Naval Operations. Utilizing the standard 1903 Springfield rifle with 10" fixed bayonet, the drill team follows a longstanding tradition of Naval service by conducting a 4-man routine and a 9-man routine. The complex drill block performed by the Drill Team features marching and arms presentations, executed with single precision motion, as well as staggering aerial maneuvers. These manuals demonstrate the strict military order and professionalism, combined with teamwork that the Drill Team members must possess in order to perform their disciplined routine.
