YORKTOWN — A small piece of Arlington National Cemetery was on display in Yorktown over the weekend as horses from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment caisson detachment visited Yorktown Battlefield.
The caisson detachment at Arlington National Cemetery is part of the oldest active duty infantry unit in the Army. Also known as The Old Guard, the term comes from when the unit was first started, dating back to 1784.
Horses in the caisson detachment participate in full military honor funeral services at Arlington — six horses pull the flag-draped casket on a black artillery caisson to its final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery.
According to Joint Task Force-National Capital Region/The U.S. Army Military District of Washington website, the six horses that pull the caisson through Arlington National Cemetery are matched black. They are paired into three teams — the lead team is in front, the swing team follows, and nearest the caisson is the wheel team. Although all six are saddled, only those on the left have mounted riders. This is a tradition that began in the early horse-drawn artillery days when one horse of each team was mounted while the other carried provisions and feed.
During the horses’ visit to Yorktown Battlefield, members of the public were able to get up close to caisson horses Magic and Remington, learn about their jobs, and see various displays of information on what the horses do at Arlington. There was also an example setup of how the riderless horses are decorated when used in a funeral procession.
“One of the oldest and most evocative of military traditions in a full honor funeral is that of the riderless, caparisoned horse. The horse is led behind the caisson wearing an empty saddle with the rider’s boots reversed in the stirrups, indicating the warrior will never ride again. Tradition allows a caparisoned horse to follow the casket of any Army or Marine Corps commissioned officer holding the rank of Colonel or above. Presidents of our nation, as Commander in Chief, are accorded the same honor,” the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region/The U.S. Army Military District of Washington website explains.
Every soldier who is a member of the caisson platoon undergoes extensive training. Soldiers are required to take a basic rider course that lasts twelve weeks at a professional facility near Fort Belvoir. Horses and riders live, work, and train together before being deemed fit for service as a member of the caisson detachment.
Maj. Wes Strickland, spokesperson for the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, shared that the visit to Yorktown was a chance to get the horses out in the public eye.
“Not only is there a tremendous training value for our animals and our soldiers, but we are also able to connect with the American public in a much more personal way. For many Americans, their interactions with us come at a distance. By participating in local community events, we’re able to connect with everyday people and showcase some of the advancements we’ve made in the caisson program. People can witness firsthand the care we provide for our animals and see some of the new equipment we’ve incorporated into the caisson program,” Strickland said.
Arlington National Cemetery, outside Washington D.C., is the final resting place for over 400,000 fallen soldiers and their eligible dependents. The cemetery is also the final resting place for former presidents William Howard Taft and John F. Kennedy. Various monuments are also located at the cemetery, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
While funeral duties are a major part of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment’s job, other jobs include being members of the Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and being the Army’s ceremonial unit and escort to the President.
To learn more about Arlington National Cemetery, visit arlingtoncemetery.mil.
