Just wondered what the deal was with the "riderless horse"

[Valerie5555]

for I heard that will be a detail in Raygun's funeral.


When Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter kicks the bucket, especially Jimmy Carter, I wonder if the Air Force will do the "Missing Comrade" formation number just to remind everyone of "Desert 1" or something.


On edit: I did recall reading that they did the "Missing Comrade" or "Missing Buddy" formation at the memorial ceremony for the 8 commandoes who "literally died trying to save the former Iran captives."

On double edit : The "missing comerade" or "lost man" formation" is where military planes fly in formation and one of the planes veered away, I also realized that I recalled that they may have done that for the astronauts who were killed in the "Challenger" space shuttle mishap.

[acmavm]

1. I wonder if they'll have a riderless bicycle or Segway for bush*s

funeral.

[nini]

2. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHA

:D

LOL

[madmax]

3. LOL a riderless Segway n/t

[Red State Rebel]

22. You made me spit soda at my screen! n/t

[The Shadow]

4. The Riderless Horse

The riderless horse is a special honor, usually reserved for soldiers or Marines who have the rank of colonel or above, and for enlisted men ranked sergeant major or above, or heads of state. The reversed boots in stirrups on a riderless horse symbolize a fallen military leader.

Among the most indelible images of American history is the caisson bearing President Kennedy's body during his funeral on Nov. 25, 1963. Black Jack, the Army's riderless horse, pranced restlessly and majestically behind the military carriage bearing the fallen president's casket as it was being taken to Arlington National Cemetery for burial.

[Valerie5555]

5. Oh yes I get it, it symbolized a fallen military commander who will never

ride again.

[Zan_of_Texas]

8. Yes.

I definitely remember Black Jack -- very spirited and restless. I was hoping that would be a ritual reserved for JFK, since Jackie brought it back.

It will always be linked with JFK in my mind, regardless of whether bobbleheads of state like Ronald Reagan have it in their ceremonies.

[Valerie5555]

14. It's a wonder JFK's coffin or casket didn't fall off

eom.

[2Design]

18. something about kennedy's funeral was very ......

what is the word I am looking for...
yes there was a impact because he was shot...

but the pomp and circumstance was just breath taking.... and black and white tv.....

that was majestic.....

no matter how much they try to elevate Ronnie....it just won't happen long term...like so many before...there were a few great presidents...and there hopefully will be more....

But thanks for your explanation....that was great....

[Valerie5555]

26. There was a certain poigniancy owing to how JFK was a fairly young fellow

and he had been ASSASINATED???????????????????????

[neebob]

6. I thought the sword and the boot were really strange

I imagined old Ronnie riding around backward - or maybe he just wore his boots backward (the toe of the boot was facing the back of the horse, was it not?) - waving a sword. Then I saw that they had the riderless horse at Kennedy's funeral. But I'm still wondering about the backward boot.

[RoyGBiv]

7. It's an ancient ceremony...

It dates back to the Roman Empire as a ritual used during the funeral ceremonies of military leaders.

Originally, the horse was hooded with its stirrups inverted and a sword placed through them to symbolize that no one would ride that horse again. This was derived from the notion that a well-trained horse could only serve one master. The horse would then be killed and buried with the dead leader, so that he wouldn't have to walk in the afterlife.

Abraham Lincoln was the first American President honored with the ritual. The backward facing boots replaced the sword. Kennedy's funeral copied that of Lincoln, and it appears from what I saw today that Reagan's services were a near copy of that.

OnEdit: Forgot to add this...

Tradition says the missing man formation began with the honoring of the fall of Baron von Richthofen, the Red Baron. It was then used by the British to honor fallen flyers. It has been adopted by the United States, and heads-of-state, which would include all Presidents, are supposed to be given the honor.

[Valerie5555]

9. Re: "Lost or Missing Man" formation

Recalled reading that formation also payed tribute to fallen heros or heroes like the 8 "Heroes of Desert One," and the "Challenger 7"


On edit There were 2 HEROINES among the "Challenger 7" Christa Mac Aullife and Judy Resnick.

[RoyGBiv]

13. I'm not sure on the specifics of Missing Man...

I do know it's used to honor dead flyers, which would include the "Desert One" heroes and those from the Challenger. In that sense it's not restricted to a particular branch of service.

I did a search on this just now, and apparently the tradition didn't enter into wide use in the US until the Vietnam War. It was originally used for fallen pilots, but has taken on a broader significance.

[Valerie5555]

15. Wonder if they really also did that for American Presidents especially one

who died while in office, i.e. like Kennedy.


Maybe it may be impossible to have a civilian equivalent, possibly to pay tribute to airline crews / passengers who put up spirited and gutsy fights against suicide highjackers only to have the highjackers end up getting the upper hand and winning.

On edit: For example what supposedly happened on United Flight 93.

[GemMom]

10. Apparently most of you are too young ....

to remember JFK's funeral where the caisson and riderless horse were used in the procession. The riderless horse is a military tradition, signifying the owner of the boots is gone, and that no one else is to ride that horse again (as signified by the boots).

[Valerie5555]

12. Was too young to remember that myself, being only 33 but I can remember

the times the "missing man" formation was done to pay tribute to fallen heroes.

[Blue-Jay]

11. I guess they could've strapped him to the horse's back.

I might have actually watched that.

[Valerie5555]

16. Reagan or his coffin you mean

eom

[Blue-Jay]

17. No, not the coffin!

That's way too heavy for a horse.

[Valerie5555]

19. You mean his body or actual corpse???????????????

eom

[Red State Rebel]

23. Sounds like a whacky version of Weekend at Bernies...n/t

[Valerie5555]

27. When a certain ex "FIRST POOCH" met with an unfortunate mishap ,

maybe the DOG LOVERS should consider it lucky no one made jokes about any "Weekend at Buddy's" movies.

[Blue-Jay]

24. It was a joke, Val. No need to get upset.

You know, a joke? A little gallows-humor to lighten the mood?

Disclaimer: In no way do I actually support the practice of strapping rotten decaying old dead fuckers to the backs of horses. Horses have very sensitive noses, and they wouldn't like it very much.

[Valerie5555]

25. LOL, Pardon me for I had a sick vision of Reagan's decaying, decomposing

corpse strapped onto the horse as if he were RIDING it. :)


On edit if that were for real, I feel sorry for the poor horse.

[TheWizardOfMudd]

20. The dead fucker can't ride a horse anymore

As if someone gives a shit.

[Valerie5555]

21. But I wonder if anyone could imagine anyone doing that for Bush or *

for he's supposedly AFRAID of HORSES.................

[Red State Rebel]

29. I don't think it makes a difference...

It's a symbolic thing.

[JCMach1]

28. They are also putting Reagan's favorite cowboy boots

backwards in the stirrups...

:puke:


thanks MSGOP I really didn't need to know that.