Welcome to Gaia! ::

Actually the guard has been there just as long. Sure they weren't always prancing all over the field in ridicules costumes and twirling brightly colored flags, but they were there. The origional color guard consisted of one person marching whith the American flag and two people on either side one holding a rifle and the other a sabre. In other words "guarding the colors". That's where the name "Color guard" comes from.

And the color guard is part of the marching band. Just like the french horn section is a part of the band as is the flute section and every other section. If you took away the trumpet section, it'd be obvious that something is missing, no? The same goes for the color guard.

Ultimately the marching band would be worse off than the guard if the two split. Guards have another season called Winterguard in which they perform without the band and compete against other guards. Instead of helping the marching band get points in the General Effect category (GE) we could just start working on our own show earlier and be a lot better off.

I'm not saying guard is more important than the Marching band, because it's not a very valid question seeing as the guard is part of the band. I just think we deserve more respect. The only section of my band that rehearces more than the guard is the drumline. Otherwise we put in just as much time, and effort (if not more) as you do.

Also don't hate on all of us just because your guard is terrible; or there's one person on your school's guard that has been your mortal enemy since the third grade or whatever. We don't deserve that, nor do we do it to you. Thanks.

=]