Prospect grad picked for Army honor guard

Less than a year into his service with the Army, Pvt. Timothy Engelson of Mount Prospect found himself in the front row of the dignitaries arriving Tuesday at the White House for President Obama's first state dinner.

As a member of the Army honor guard, Engelson stood at attention on the White House lawn as the President and first lady greeted the heads of state that pulled up.

"It was my first time at the White House," said Engelson, a 2008 Prospect High School graduate. "It was pretty cool."

As a member of honor guard, Engelson is part of the Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment, or the "Old Guard," whose history dates back to 1784. It is one of the only active duty units whose mission is ceremonial.

"Our role is not protective; that's what the Secret Service is for," says Capt. Christopher Kegel, public affairs officer for the Old Guard. "We're the premiere ceremonial unit that executes all ceremonies in the Washington area and the nation's capital."

Engelson was recruited for the honor guard right out of basic training. He was one of a handful selected from a graduating class of 500 at Fort Benning, Ga., his parents say. A variety of factors went into it, but he met the major criteria: his height.

At nearly six foot four, Engelson was tall enough to be part of the guard, whose unofficial duty is to be the face of the Army and tell its story to the nation, Kegel added.

Ironically, Engelson thought he'd be in Afghanistan or Iraq by now. He enlisted in the infantry and thought all of his marching skills honed during basic training would take him to the Middle East. Instead, he marches in ceremonies ranging from parades and funerals to state dinners.

"We're so relieved," says his mother, Mary, who works in pre-admissions at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. "He's so fortunate."

Engelson was part of the honor guard at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day, when President Obama laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

He also has been assigned to ceremonies at the Pentagon and marched in front of a horse drawn caisson carrying a casket for military funerals.

"We probably do three to four missions a week," Engelson said. "But the funerals are probably my favorite. They're the most fulfilling for me."

On Tuesday, the original plan was for Engelson and the rest of the guard to march across the south lawn, along with military bands, including the fife & drum corps. When the weather turned inclement, he was reassigned to the front lawn, adjacent to the driveway as guests arrived.

"This was my second time being that close to the President," he said. "Yeah, it was pretty exciting."