A Custom Caisson Deck Built for Meaningful Final Farewells
When HBH Clydesdales of Carlisle, New York, acquired a new caisson, they knew they needed the right casket deck to help prepare it for funeral service. That need led them to G. Burns, where we connected with John to talk through the project, their caisson, and the kind of terrain they would be traveling across.
Together, we worked toward a practical goal: creating a safer, more secure casket platform that would serve families well and be ready in time for upcoming services.
What is a caisson?
A caisson has historic military roots. Originally, it was a horse-drawn military wagon. Today, it is best known as the ceremonial carriage used at military and state funerals to transport a casket with dignity and honor.
Its presence conveys a deep sense of tradition and reverence, especially in services honoring veterans and public servants. That legacy is a big part of what makes projects like this one so meaningful.
Planning a deck for real-world use
As we learned more about HBH’s caisson project, the conversation quickly turned to function and securement. This was not just about adding a deck. It was about building one that would perform properly during funeral use, including on hilly terrain and over the kinds of bumps that can come with real-world travel.
Because of that, we discussed the need for additional casket securement and added touchpoints to help hold the casket safely and respectfully in place.
For the build, HBH Clydesdales purchased our Casket Slide Mounting System and Basic Floor Parts Package. Together, these packages provided the core components needed to build a functional casket deck, along with additional bier pins and plates to create more securement points. That added stability helped provide greater confidence that the casket would remain properly secured throughout the final ride.
A project with a meaningful purpose
We were especially proud to support this build because of the important role it would soon play. The completed caisson deck was soon part of services honoring veterans, including Lt. Joseph Burke.
WNYT NewsChannel 13, the NBC affiliate serving New York’s Capital Region, reported that Lt. Joseph Burke was laid to rest at Saratoga National Cemetery with military honors after being identified decades after his death as a prisoner of war.
These were powerful reminders of why careful, respectful memorial transport matters so much. We were honored that G. Burns parts could play a small role in helping HBH Clydesdales serve families during such meaningful moments.
About HBH Clydesdales
HBH Clydesdales brings a unique and memorable presence to life’s milestone moments. Their ceremonial carriage services add tradition, beauty, and dignity to events ranging from weddings to funerals, and this caisson project reflects that same commitment to meaningful presentation.
In this case, that commitment extended to honoring veterans and helping provide a respectful final sendoff through a horse-drawn caisson service rooted in tradition and care.
If you’d like to learn more about HBH Clydesdales and follow their work, you can connect with them on Facebook and Instagram.
More memorial transport projects from G. Burns
At G. Burns, we know memorial transport goes beyond traditional hearses. Over the years, we’ve been proud to support a variety of memorial transport projects with casket securement parts and custom floor solutions. From fire trucks to motorcycles and now caissons, we’ve enjoyed being part of builds that help funeral professionals and ceremonial providers create dignified, secure, and meaningful vehicles for a family’s final journey.
If you’re exploring a custom memorial transport build of your own, explore our memorial transport vehicle solutions to learn more.
