Today, President of Latvia Egils Levits took part in the National Armed Forces Staff Battalion Guard of Honour 30th anniversary event at the Freedom Monument.
Guards of Honour serve as ceremonial guard at the Freedom Monument and Riga Castle. They also attend at military ceremonies of the Republic of Latvia, Ministry of Defence and National Armed Forces, as well as operating as a regular infantry unit.
Guards of Honour were established together with Staff Battalion on 29 July 1919 when the Superintendent Company of the new Army Supreme Commander was ordered to guard the headquarters of the Supreme Commander and later, in 1923, also the Riga Castle and Saeima buildings. After the coup d'état organised by Prime Minister Kārlis Ulmanis in 1934, Guards of Honour were reorganised and also guarded the government building on 3 Kr. Valdemāra Street.
Guards took stand at the Freedom Monument for the first time on 18 November 1935. Guards of Honour were disbanded in 1940.
Guards of Honour were restored on 1 May 1992 with the same mandate. Guards of Honour returned to Freedom Monument on 11 November 1992.
