Honoring those who served: A tradition with ancient roots
The idea of honoring the fallen with solemn ceremony stretches back thousands of years. Ancient Greeks and Romans held sacred rites for warriors who died in battle, often including a final vigil or watch. That tradition continued through centuries of military practice across Europe and America.
In the United States, military honors became more formalized after the Civil War and again after World War I, as the nation sought to publicly mourn and memorialize its dead. Over time, ceremonial honor guard units became standard in all branches of the armed forces.