I was so proud of the young military men carrying the coffin,,they were just so beautiful to me, the way they walked that slow walk,,what is that? Does it have a name. And I loved the way they rushed the coffin into the cathedral,,somehow it was fitting. This has been a lovely sad day. It feels just right, just right.
A very apt description.
Honor Guard Elements
The Honor Guard consists of four elements: (I just listed one) the rest are here:
http://www.cap-honorguard.org/elements.htm
C. Funeral Element
This unit maybe called upon to represent the military at a funeral. It is an honor for this unit to escort the remains of a fallen military comrade to their final resting-place. Strength, determination, pride, honor and teamwork are essential for the bearers to keep the casket level as they carry it. They also have the honor of folding the United State Flag and handing it to the military representative for presentation to the grieving families. There is no firing unit attached to this element.
This element may be called upon to assist in the laying of a Memorial Day wreath, the playing of taps, or to stand guard at a funeral home.
Even though this is the most solemn of the elements, the precise slow cadence and movements are essential for honor, pride, and dignity required of this element.