Honor Guard Shoes

[Holiday161]

Does anyone know a place I can get a pair of Honor Guard shoes "built up"? I am in the DC area but will take any suggestions as long as I can get them shipped.

Thanks in advance.

[krellum]

Are you just looking for lifts, i.e. to make you taller? I think you can just get any lifts and put them in some corfram/military dress shoes.

I was not aware that there were commercially-available "honor guard shoes."

[Holiday161]

I was looking for a shoe shop that put the metal plates on the bottom of the heel and on the sides similar to what is used by military Honor Guards. I already have a pair of Bates, now I just need them to be altered. I haven't had much luck at my local military installations-I keep getting sent in the wrong direction since I am not currently associated in any way.

[Jedi]

I never had the taps put on my shoes, but I'd imagine that virtually any dance equipment place or decent shoe shop can hook you up.

[Sgt Jon]

You can try Muscatellos, (202) 832-5252 at 900 Rhode Island Ave NE Washington, DC

Also American Uniforms (703) 941-9382, 5601-C General Washington Drive
Alexandria, VA 22312

[krellum]

I was looking for a shoe shop that put the metal plates on the bottom of the heel and on the sides similar to what is used by military Honor Guards.

Actually, if memory serves, it was only the Army's "Old Guard" who had the plates on their shoes, I guess because they wanted that "tap" sound for the tomb guards, who were supposed to be 'noticed' by visitors. Maybe some of the other service's drill platoons did it, too, but I never really noticed them.

I was in the Marine Corps. honor guard and we wore just plain old Bates corfram shoes.

Some things to think about:

If you're a member of multi-person honor guard and everyone's steps aren't exactly together (not merely "in step", but well-timed heel and toe strikes, which takes a LOT of practice), the "taps" are going to sound like a machine gun burst.

Those things can make be VERY slippery to walk around on, especially on cold/icy pavement.

And just my own 2 cents, but honoring the death of someone should be a somber, low-key affair, so I would go without the tapping shoes, if possible. Again, that's just personal opinion.

k

[Holiday161]

I had actually done an exhaustive search in the local area to include Muscatellos and American Uniforms but had negative results. I even made a trip into the Ft. Myer area thinking any local shoe shop would definitely be able to do this, but not the case. I was able to speak with military members of an Honor Guard that performs details at the Pentagon. They in fact wear the taps on their shoes for their duties and said that they believed that Ft. Myer got their shoes done somewhere outside of VA/DC.

Krellum-
I totally agree with every bit of advise that you provided. I am just a new member of the team and it is the Team Commander's preference that we have taps on our shoes. Also, I could just ask them where they got their shoes done except the team has been recently resurrected. There were 4 members that had been carry the duties for a while and were wearing hand me down shoes that had taps on them. Anyone that joins from here on out is forced to track down their equipment.

I am continuing to dig and may have a lead over at the Navy Yard.
Thanks to everyone that has responded thus far.

[krellum]

I am just a new member of the team and it is the Team Commander's preference that we have taps on our shoes.

10-4: guess you gotta do what the boss says. You might actually try contacting some members or vets of the Old Guard via military.com's Army message forums. I'm sure they could tell you where they got 'em.

k