Military Honor guard question

[growr]

Why do military honor guard units wear dress white gloves? When did this start?

Randy

 

[raljr1]

I asked my son who was a honor guard Soldier for several years and he doesn't know

 

[growr]

Isn't THAT odd? I have asked all of the members of the local VFW/American Legion and they don't know either.

One thought it might be a throw off of the DI's white glove inspection ....but that doesn't explain it's heritage on Honor Guard/Funeral details.

Randy

 

[LTC_D]

I found some history on white gloves, although not specific to military uniforms. In a book entitled Death and Burial, the color white (and by extension the white gloves) are associated with innocence; in the case of death and ceremony, this innocence takes the form of strangers who represent the world at large. It seems that historically the undertaker's men and the pallbearers were strangers to the bereaved family and represented the respect offered to the Dead by the rest of the world. All undertakers and pallbearers wore white gloves for the ceremony; those gloves were then interred with the Deceased. In the military, honor guards were specific distinctive uniform parts, with white gloves being part of the uniform. Thus, the honor guard serves the same purpose as the undertakers/pallbearers did - representing the world at large. Not a great answer, but the best I could find.

 

[rog8732]

I pulled a six week duty as pall bearer/ rifleman. We wore full dress greens, but no gloves of any color.

We alternated between the gun salute team and the pall bearers and folding the flag.

The funerals were within a 150 mile radius of Ft. Bragg, N C, no more than three a week. Very solemn; not often very many in attendance.

If I ever knew; I don't recall how the request came in for the Military type funeral. For sure Veteran connected though; but not all were in a Veteran cemetery.

 

[Targets Guy]

Don't know when it started. We did it in 1964 for all inspections and parades. We would dampen them just a little. Helped us hold onto the M1's.

 

[jack the toad]

Can't answer your question but our local American Legion Post honor guard (I'm a member) doesn't wear the gloves, only our bugler.
Our uniform of the day though consists merely of black trousers, white button down shirt and Legion garrison cap. I guess we could but we don't even have shoulder cords, unit patches, etc. Pretty low-key looking folks.

 

[WALLIS]

The Tomb Guards have worn white since 1946. From old pictures in the Tomb Guard Barracks

 

[Texas Star]

Why did MP's wear white caps and white boot laces?

I think the idea was to look unique and a bit dressy. Probably the same applies to funeral soldiers.

I can give a better answer as to why British MP's wear red caps. Red seems to be associated with generals, their collar tabs and red bands on caps. Red is therefore a color associated with authority. I guess... Maybe.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I wore white gloves and a polished chrome helmet.

 

[Rustyt1953]

As mentioned, it may be that it just looks dignified.

I remember the chrome helmets.