When a loved one who was a member of the United States military forces dies, the family will sometimes wish to arrange a burial with military honors.  There are one hundred national cemeteries in the United States.  However, not every state has a national cemetery.  The main and most well-known military cemetery is Arlington National Cemetery which is located in Washington, D.C.  and administered by the Army.

The custom of playing Taps began in the United States in 1862 during the Civil War. It was written by Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield.

Draping the casket with the national flag is a custom which began during the Napoleonic Wars (1796-1815). At that time, dead soldiers were covered with a flag and removed from the field of battle on a caisson (two wheeled vehicle used to hold artillery ammunition attached to a horse-drawn wagon). A United States flag is not placed in the grave and is not allowed to touch the ground at any time.

This Caisson is being used in Kempton Pa. for a local man who once had large horse like the percherons in this picture a dapple grey almost white horse.

This Caisson is being used in Kempton Pa. for a local man who once had large horse like the percherons in this picture a dapple grey almost white horse.

This Caisson is being used in Kempton Pa. for a local man who once had large horse like the percherons in this picture a dapple grey almost white horse.

This Caisson is being used in Kempton Pa. for a local man who once had large horse like the percherons in this picture a dapple grey almost white horse.

Joe Tetz Horse Drawn Hearse was part of a Funeral service in Manassas Virginia at the Stonewall Memorial Gardens Cemetery for Fairfax Funeral Home

Joe Tetz Horse Drawn Hearse was part of a Funeral service in Manassas Virginia at the Stonewall Memorial Gardens Cemetery for Fairfax Funeral Home

Tetz Horse Drawn Caisson at a cemetery in Shoemakersville Pa. is being used for a Veteran from the Leibensberger Funeral Home in Hamburg Pa.

Tetz Horse Drawn Caisson at a church in Shoemakersville for Leibensberger Funeral Home in Hamburg Pa.

Tetz Horse Drawn Caisson is being used for a Marine in Philadelphia Pa.

Army Pvt. of Berks County, New Berlinville Pa. is taken to his resting place by Tetz Horse Drawn Caisson

The horse drawn caisson seen above is in Gilbertsville Pa. at the New Goshenhoppen United Church of Christ Montgomery County is being used for a Soldier that died in Iraq for our country. Behind the Horse Drawn Caisson are the Patriot Guard Riders who assembled at the funeral and line the drive which lead to the Burial Ground to protect our soldier as he had done for our country, keeping us safe. Soldiers of the 101st Airborne also marched with the caisson and performed a rifle salute, taps, and folding of the American flag.

The horse drawn caisson seen here is in Gilbertsville Pa. Being used for a Soldier that died in Iraq for our country. Behind the Horse Drawn Caisson are the Patriot Guard Riders who assembled at the funeral and line the drive which lead to the Burial Ground to protect our soldier as he had done for our country, keeping us safe.

Bee Tree Trail helping with a military funeral, Members of the Pa. National Guard 228th Forward Support Battalion accompany the Horse Drawn caisson carrying the casket of a military soldier that died in Iraq, to Nisky Hill Cemetery in Bethlehem. This caisson is for Hire.

This is a picture of a horse drawn caisson which can be purchased from Joe Tetz

The Horse Drawn Caisson is used by Military, Firemen and Police personnel

The man riding the horse drawn caisson next to Joe was very proud to be able to ride with him to take his best friend a fireman to the cemetery at Speer Van Arsdale Sommerville NJ

A Horse Drawn Funeral at Speer Van Arsdale Sommerville NJ

The Horse Drawn Funeral location was C R Strunk Funeral Home Inc. Quakertown Pa.

Bee Tree Trail Pulling the Caisson at a parade in Fleetwood Pa Sponsored by Stump Funeral Home.

Some History of Joe and Barb

In 1995, while installing a new driveway in the nearby City of Bethlehem, construction workers unearthed the skeletal remains of 2 bodies. It was determined, by the buttons on their jackets, that they were the remains of Revolutionary War Soldiers.

Joe and Barb were delighted and honored when asked to participate in the reburial of these men. It turned out to be quite an affair. Local dignitaries as well as the Pentagon Color Guard were there to take part in the ceremony. The streets were lined with hundreds of spectators. That was the beginning of Joe and Barb’s Horse Drawn Funeral Service. From there Joe and Barb went on to design and build Custom Hearses. Some of the finest to be found anywhere.