Everyone should read this and learn more about the men of Caisson Platoon and what they do.
http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=64278
An excellent video as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zwOLNXaUjg
Honoring the Caisson Platoon of Arlington Natl Cemetery
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OakRidgeStars
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Re: Honoring the Caisson Platoon of Arlington Natl Cemetery
We used to give those guys a hard time, every chance we got.
I once participated in a two platoon full honor funeral under such cold/windy conditions that they would not bring the horses out of the barns (used the hearse to transport the body all the way from the chapel to the grave site), the US Army Band didn't show up at all, and by the time the Casket Team (2nd Platoon personnel) brought the casket out of the Old Chapel to load back into the hearse we had lost enough guys for near frostbite that we were down to one platoon.
Near frostbite, you ask? A Sgt. walks along, through the formation flicking the lobes of your ears (and everyone else) to see if they are flexible, or frozen stiff. If frozen, you were pulled out of formation and placed on a heated bus to insure no one went to the clinic for frostbite. Apparently, I don't (not then anyway) get frozen ears very easily. I was in the platoon that marched down into the cemetery and finished the graveside rites before marching off to load on another bus.
Just for info, 40 years ago anyway, the Old Guard companies were made up of 3 platoons. First platoon was a marching platoon (there wasn't one at the funeral featured on the video. They would have been out front marching down the road at right shoulder arms. Second platoon handles the caskets. Third platoon is the firing parties.
Also, when I was up there, only one company wore the Honor Guard tabs on the left shoulder. That was Honor Guard Company. There were several other companies in the Old Guard, but only one trained hard enough, often enough and earned the right to wear that tab. We did all the joint service ceremonies at the White House, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Pentagon, or anyplace/any ceremony were the all five branches of the armed services were involved. We also did what the rest of the companies did, the joint service jobs were extra.
I once participated in a two platoon full honor funeral under such cold/windy conditions that they would not bring the horses out of the barns (used the hearse to transport the body all the way from the chapel to the grave site), the US Army Band didn't show up at all, and by the time the Casket Team (2nd Platoon personnel) brought the casket out of the Old Chapel to load back into the hearse we had lost enough guys for near frostbite that we were down to one platoon.
Near frostbite, you ask? A Sgt. walks along, through the formation flicking the lobes of your ears (and everyone else) to see if they are flexible, or frozen stiff. If frozen, you were pulled out of formation and placed on a heated bus to insure no one went to the clinic for frostbite. Apparently, I don't (not then anyway) get frozen ears very easily. I was in the platoon that marched down into the cemetery and finished the graveside rites before marching off to load on another bus.
Just for info, 40 years ago anyway, the Old Guard companies were made up of 3 platoons. First platoon was a marching platoon (there wasn't one at the funeral featured on the video. They would have been out front marching down the road at right shoulder arms. Second platoon handles the caskets. Third platoon is the firing parties.
Also, when I was up there, only one company wore the Honor Guard tabs on the left shoulder. That was Honor Guard Company. There were several other companies in the Old Guard, but only one trained hard enough, often enough and earned the right to wear that tab. We did all the joint service ceremonies at the White House, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Pentagon, or anyplace/any ceremony were the all five branches of the armed services were involved. We also did what the rest of the companies did, the joint service jobs were extra.