September 2022 Issue

Page 36 September 2022 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN Caisson Platoon Honors Soldiers, Both Human and Horse everything we did. From the care of our uniforms to the precision of our marching to the grooming of our horses, it was our sacred duty to honor the fallen in ways big and small. Our standard was simple: perfection on every level.” — Tom Cotton, from his book Sacred Duty . The term “caisson” origi- nally meant a chest or wagon built as a platform for 75mm cannons, ammunition, artillery, and provisions to carry to the front lines. The caisson was pulled by horses, and once emp- tied, the unit then returned to transport the wounded or dead back to hospitals or the morgue. Today the platforms have a flat deck for the casket. The caisson bears the fallen soldier and is a most hallowed responsibili- ty. Both horse and soldier are dedicated, pristine, and impec- cable as they march in uniform perfection. Surprisingly, soldiers are not necessarily experienced riders, as they are trained to a specific style for the unit since 1948. Every maneuver and detail is rehearsed to perfection. Uniforms and tack are unique to the regiment. Soldiers learn stiff posture in military style in a specifically designed McClellan saddle. George Brinton McClel- lan was a U.S. Army officer who became a general and chief in 1861 during the Civil War. He designed the saddle after a tour in Europe to study the latest in Calvary developments in field equipment. Soldiers maintain their uniform, clean tack, and care for their horse. These rituals begin in the early morning, as early as 4:00 AM, at the Caisson stables located in Fort Myer adjacent to Arlington Cemetery. Here over fifty soldiers, divided into squads and teams, are responsible for their mounts. There are seven horses to a team. The horses come to Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall to be trained for their mission of towing the caisson. The cof- fin is pulled by six horses, in silence, weaving the paths in three teams: the lead team, the swing team, and, nearest to the caisson, the wheel team. All six are saddled, but only the horses on the left are mounted. This historically represents the tradition in battle of one mount- ed horse leading another saddled only with provisions. One such equine was the infamous Black Jack, who marched in more than 1,000 Armed Forces Full Honors funerals and is buried in Arling- ton. In a full-honor funeral, a riderless horse follows the pro- cession, an ornamental cover- ing draped over its saddle. The caparisoned horse is led behind the Caisson wearing the rider’s boots in the stirrups reversed—an indication the soldier will never ride again. This casket bears any Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps commissioned officer hold- ing the rank of colonel or above. Also, Presidents, as commanders in chief, are bestowed the same honor. After learning the history and duties of The Old Guard, I reflected on our obligation as a nation. I had the privilege of speaking to Julie Broadway, a certified association executive (CAE) and lifelong horse lover who has been president of the American Horse Council (AHC) and Foundation since 2016. She serves as CEO and oversees such goals as aiding the board of trust- ees in setting directions and vi- sions. The AHC's role is to be the voice of the equine industry with federal legislative and regulatory bodies. They educate and provide input/feedback to congressional members, staffers, and regulatory agencies. Broadway states: “We work closely with coalitions in D.C. to help move the industry’s efforts forward, whether that be tax, workforce challenges, gaming, sports, disease mitiga- tion, etc. The AHC Foundation is responsible for charitable and scientific endeavors like the United Horse Coalition which helps at-risk horses, economic impact studies, equine wel- fare data collective, research summits, and all types of data collection and analysis.” Broadway also noted the AHC staff has a long-stand- ing relationship with The Old Guard and sees them firsthand. “The Old Guard conducts them- selves with three duties: Duty of Care, Duty of Loyalty, and Duty of Obedience.” Accord- ing to her, the AHC has been involved in several events with members of the Guard, and they never fail to elicit awe and admiration. “It's evident,” she said, “that the horses become partners, family, and colleagues to them. Adding this to the solemn duty of laying a com- rade to rest, they are a magical team.” Funding for this program comes from the Department of Defense. And like any govern- ment agency, funding is always tight and challenging. Following the increase in today’s costs, the budget to maintain this regiment is ever growing. According to Broadway, in June 2022 the Army said it spent almost $2.5 million since March on improve- ments for the 60 horses kept at Fort Myer-Henderson Hall and Fort Belvoir, Virginia. They are still searching to expand lots and pastures. “We're told the Senate Armed Services Committee may include funding for improve- ments in the annual National Defense Authorization Act,” Broadway stated. She shared that this committee is in the process of drafting the legisla- tion, and she encourages grass- roots advocacy to tell congres- sional members to support The Old Guard, and to encourage the Armed Services Committee to commit funding for improve- ments. Those who lead a fallen soldier who has died to bestow freedom on individuals he or she never met deserve respect. The Caisson implements this observance with the utmost dedication. The duty is vital to families and soldiers who died for our freedom. For this reason, horse lovers and others should be aware of the signif- icance of these soldiers, both human and horse, in this pla- toon. To show support for the Regiment is the least we can do to give back. Alicia Stephens Martin’s third novel, Private Mom, is about a widowed mother torn apart when her daughter, an avid equestrian, joins the Army. The novel spurred her interest in The Old Guard, specifically The Caisson, a platoon which per- forms the solemn duty of carrying soldiers to their final resting place. (Continued from page 22)