GOLDSBORO, N.C. — The North Carolina Troopers Association Caisson Unit will be lending a hand at the Arlington National Cemetery in the Washington D.C. area.

The caisson currently used in Arlington, Virginia is used up to eight times a day and is significantly heavier than the one used in North Carolina, making it tough for horses to haul. 

Troopers from North Carolina made the trip to Arlington earlier this week, leaving the caisson there. North Carolina’s caisson unit is the only one on the East Coast. 

Colonel Freddy Johnson, commander of of the N.C. State Highway Patrol, commended the unit for its efforts.

“It’s just that the honor when you see this unit perform, families never forget it,” Johnson said.

“I can only imagine what Arlington deals with when they use their caisson unit to take care of military families from all over our country,” Johnson added. 

There is not a timeline just yet for when the caisson will return to North Carolina.