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Soldiers from the Caisson Platoon, 1st Battalion, 3d U.S. Infantry
Regiment (The Old Guard), their everyday missions take them through
Arlington National Cemetery paying respects to not only those
service members no longer with us, but to their Families as well.
Once riders surpass 500 funeral missions, they receive brass spurs.
One rider’s accomplishments were recognized with never-before-seen
custom spurs.
Staff Sgt. Steven Taylor, rider, Caisson
Platoon, was honored April 27, 2017, during a ceremony at the
Caisson Barn on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia.
During the ceremony, Taylor was presented with a newly
custom-made pair of black spurs for accumulating over 1000 funeral
missions, a feat not achieved in recent Caisson history, if ever.
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April 27, 2017 - Capt. Austin Hatch, Caisson platoon leader,
presents Staff Sgt. Steven Taylor with custom-made black spurs
during a ceremony at the Caisson Stable on Joint Base Myer-Henderson
Hall, VA. Riders receive brass spurs for finishing 500 funeral
missions, but since Taylor was the first to surpass 1000, custom
spurs were made for the achievement. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kelvin Ringold)
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“In recorded history that we know of, there has never been a
rider to serve in 1,000 funerals,” explained Capt. Austin Hatch,
Caisson platoon leader. “The closest that we currently have recorded
is 576.”
Taylor has been in the Caisson Platoon since April
2, 2014, and this accomplishment just adds to his achievements that
have impressed the leadership here since his arrival.
“It’s
an amazing show of leadership,” exclaimed Col. Jason T. Garkey, 3d
U.S. Inf. Regt. commander. “I can’t tell you how much we appreciate
your dedication and professionalism.”
Gaining this
prestigious honor is something Taylor didn’t expect but is extremely
appreciative of.
“It’s definitely an honor to hit 1000
rides,” said Taylor. “I’ve seen it as a number before as I marked
them down. Once I saw it was so close, I just kept on going.”
If 1,000 rides was achieved prior to his accomplishment, it
wasn’t done during one tour.
“There may have been people that have done it before,”
said Taylor. “But they had been here at different times in
their careers. It took me 3 years and 25 days to get 1000
rides.”
After hitting this monumental mark, Taylor
embarks on his “last ride” later in 2017, and will then move
from Caisson to spend his time as the battalion retention
NCO to continue helping Soldiers.
After all he has
been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time, the
battalion leadership still expects to see him continue to
set the bar high.
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April 27, 2017 - Staff Sgt. Steven Taylor, Caisson Platoon, 1st
Battalion, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), leads his team
to ANC for a memorial affairs mission on Joint Base Myer-Henderson
Hall, VA. For his dedicated memorial support, Taylor was presented
custom-made black spurs for completing over 1,000 funeral missions
in his three years as part of The Old Guard. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kelvin Ringold)
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“If he puts half the passion and dedication he does for
us as he does honoring Soldiers and their Families,” said
Lt. Col. Jody Shouse, 1st Battalion commander. “Then it’s a
win-win for sergeant major and I.”
Since his time in
the platoon is almost complete, Taylor had some advice for
fellow riders to get the best out of their time in Caisson,
and to ensure repeated mission success.
“Make sure that the Families in Arlington are your
number one priority,” said Taylor. “We have long days and the hours
add up, but regardless of how good or bad of a day you are having,
it’s our duty to ensure they receive the best funeral as possible.”
By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kelvin Ringold
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2017
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