Why is there a Guidon?

the guidon began back in the day of spear units. a champion from each unit would attach their standard (flag) to their spear. this would distinguish them as the rally point for their unit. In time, commanders of armies began to use these implements as a standard of locating, tracking, and communicating with their fielded units. Today we still carry guidons with our units to honor the history involved and as a symbol of unit pride (such as the pride an old unit would have had in its champion).

Guidons were used in the era of linear tactics i.e revolutionary war, Napoleonic war and Civil war eras to guide a regiment or battalion on the battlefield. Everyone would look where their particular flag was headed and "guide" on it. Now they are strictly ceremonial and used to identify a military company.

it makes the formation look cool with a flag on a spear in front of it. its also military tradition for units to be identified at a distance by their flag.

what is a guidon?