GREENSBORO, N.C. — As dozens of people lined up to pay their respects to fallen officer Sergeant Dale Nix, it drew a wave of emotional responses when he arrived at Westover Church in Greensboro in a horse-drawn caisson — or a horse-drawn military wagon.
So why are some referring to it as a caisson?
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said a caisson is a horse-drawn military wagon that is used to move a funeral casket from one location to the next.
Caissons became popular around the time of the Civil War, according to North Carolina Troopers Association Caisson Unit. Traditionally, the horses would carry the riders, packs, and ammunition while pulling a wagon, carrying the fallen.
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Remembering Sgt. Dale Nix
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