The Guidon Research Paper

The history of the guidon. As per chapter 6 of Army Regulation 840–10 guidons are swallow-tailed marker flags in branch of service colors measuring 20 inches at the host by 27 inches at the fly, with the swallow tail end forked 10 inches. The purpose of the guidon is that it represents the unit and its commanding officer. Though it seems like the guidon is just a flag, it is not, the guidon carries a great sense of pride for the unit and it represents the units past. Disgrace or negligence to the guidon is considered a dishonor to the unit as a whole, and is usually followed with punishment. Flags and guidons with unit colors go back hundreds of years. Regimental colors or guidance can be traced back as early as the 1500s, where they were carried by the Greeks Romans and Egyptians. The guidons name

The Romans are known for their miliray prowess and the strength of their military. The Roman army was innovative and ahead of its time, and is almost singularly responsible for the expansion and success of the Roman Empire. Symbolism, pride, and values were of particular importance to the Romans and were represented in the heraldic and military items of the time. An aquila, or eagle, was a popular symbol used in ancient Rome, and almost exclusively as the flag of a Roman legion. A soldier known as an aquilifer, or eagle-bearer, carried this flag. Each regiment carried one eagle. The eagle was gravely important to the Roman military. Because it was not just a symbol of a legion but represented there values and futility. Losing a standard was considered a serious and terrible offense, the Roman military often went to great measures to protect a standard and to reclaim or recover it if lost. For example, after the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, the Romans spent years trying to recover the lost flags of three regiments. No military eagles have been discovered. But there have been other Roman eagles discovered, used for imperial rule insignia or used as funeral