In Honor of Our Soldiers

In honor of our American friends, on this Memorial Day, we find this somber photograph of Arlington Cemetery as a reminder of the brave souls who served and lost their lives.

Arlington Cemetery

Adjacent to Arlington Cemetery stands the Iwo Jima Memorial, with its bells of the Netherlands Carillion tolling for soldiers everywhere.

Iwo Jima Memorial

Likewise, in Canada, The National Military Cemetery at Beechwood is the final resting place for our honorable Canadian service personnel. 

The National Military Cemetery

Memorial Day in either country, involves families getting together attending ceremonial services and parades, whether they are in big cities or small home towns.  While at these events we remember those who have fought for land and freedoms, and observe various customs and traditions that are adhered to during these events.

The National Military Cemetery

Always in attendance is the riderless (or caparisoned) horse. 

Memorial Day Parade, Washington, DC

This horse is led by a "cap walker," and is fully saddled, bridled and bears a pair of boots set backwards in the stirrups.  The honor is reserved for high-ranking government officials and for officers of the rank of Colonel or above who have died.  

Arlington Cemetery

Today's customary three-shots-fired over a grave probably originated as far back as the Roman Empire. The Roman funeral rite of casting dirt three times on the coffin constituted the "burial."  It was customary amongst the Romans to call the dead three times by name, which ended the funeral ceremony, after which the friends and relatives of the deceased pronounced the word "vale" (farewell) three times as they departed from the tomb.  In more recent history, three muskets were fired to announce that the burying of the dead was complete and the burial party was ready for battle again.

US Capitol - Ronald Reagan Funeral

The custom of using a caisson to carry a coffin most likely had its origins in the 1800s when horse-drawn caissons that pulled artillery pieces also doubled as a vehicle to clear fallen soldiers from the battlefield. Caissons are pulled by 6-8 black or grey horses, and are usually Percherons.  In the United States Capital, the horses used for this purpose are kept at Ft. Myer in Arlington, Virginia, surrounded by hi-rise apartments and office buildings.

The National Military Cemetery

As noted before, in the mid to late 1800s a funeral procession of a mounted officer or enlisted man was accompanied by a riderless horse in mourning caparison, followed by a hearse.  It was a custom to have the boots of the deceased thrown over the saddle with heels to the front signifying that his march had ended. You will often see the rider's boots reversed in the stirrups, indicating the soldier will never ride again, as well as signifying the commander's parting look upon his troops who march behind.

When the caisson horses are not being utilized for memorial / funeral events at Arlington Cemetery, they are utilized in therapy on the grounds of Ft. Myer in the rehabilitation of  injured U.S. soldiers.  

The Percherons are well-trained, easy going and are perfect for the job.

Yet another reason why we love our Percherons so.  

We wish everyone a safe Memorial Day, and ask that you please remember those who have not yet (or will ever) return home to their families and to the countries that they loved.

The National Military Cemetery