History of the MDNGHG

In 1998 the Maryland State Legislature passed laws establishing the Maryland National Guard Honor Guard and charging them with the mandate to provide military funeral honors for all Maryland veterans. Beginning first as a five day operation at Maryland Veteran Cemeteries only, the program soon expanded to seven days to include private cemeteries in Maryland as well as Maryland Veteran Cemeteries. In 2000 the United States Congress passed legislation requiring the Department of Defense to provide funeral honors for all military veterans when requested, making our missions truly Congressionally and State mandated.

Our Honor Guard members are full time professionals who are drawn from the ranks of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard. They must meet the highest standards of military bearing, deportment, dress, and appearance to be considered one of Maryland’s elite. These highly motivated individuals participate in an average over three hundred funerals per month. In addition to rendering funeral honors, the MDNGHG provides color teams for State and special events. Currently we have many of our personnel deployed with their National Guard Units in support of our nation’s security.