The Third Infantry Regiment United States Army, more commonly known as the Old Guard, is always responsible for the caisson. A caisson is a horse drawn wagon or cart. The two caissons used at the Cemetery are from the WWI time period circa 1918-1919. Originally the caisson was used to bring artillery and ammunition onto the battlefield. Once the artillery was off-loaded, the caisson was loaded with bodies of fallen service members. The wagon is pulled by six horses, but there are only three riders. The Old Guard service members only ride the horses on the left side because the horses on right side were originally used to take supplies onto the battlefield. Officers with a rank of colonel or above in the Army and the Marine Corps may also have a caparisoned (riderless) horse, if available. The riderless horse follows behind the caisson and is guided by an Old Guard service member. The horse wears an empty saddle with the boots in the stirrups backwards to signify the last ride of the officer, as captured here.

[igp-video src=”” poster=”https://www.arlington.media/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/the-third-infantry-regiment-united-states-army-more-commonly-known-as-the-old-guard-is-always-respon.jpg” size=”large”]The Third Infantry Regiment United States Army, more commonly known as the Old Guard, is always responsible for the caisson. A caisson is a horse drawn wagon or cart. The two caissons used at the Cemetery are from the WWI time period circa 1918-1919. Originally the caisson was used to bring artillery and ammunition onto the battlefield. Once the artillery was off-loaded, the caisson was loaded with bodies of fallen service members. The wagon is pulled by six horses, but there are only three riders. The Old Guard service members only ride the horses on the left side because the horses on right side were originally used to take supplies onto the battlefield. Officers with a rank of colonel or above in the Army and the Marine Corps may also have a caparisoned (riderless) horse, if available. The riderless horse follows behind the caisson and is guided by an Old Guard service member. The horse wears an empty saddle with the boots in the stirrups backwards to signify the last ride of the officer, as captured here.