In the middle of August each year at St. Francis Barracks in St. Augustine, two elegant mules pull a caisson symbolically carrying the remains of the soldiers who had died in the Second Seminole War.

The procession they lead commemorates the first re-interment of soldiers in Aug. 15, 1842. The commanding officer in charge of military operations in Florida, U.S. Army Col. William Worth, declared an end to hostilities and called for the remains of the fallen to be gathered together and transported to St. Augustine. He detailed that the caissons be pulled by Elegant Mules.

Emmitt and Tater are the two mules with whom Thomas F. and Denise Fitzgerald provide to offer “solemn pride” for fallen military veterans today.

In this episode, Tom Fitzgerald joins us to discuss what he and his wife do for deceased veterans as well as everything you might want to know about caring for two elegant mules who lead funeral processions.

Denise and Tom Fitzgerald take great care to ensure their presentation honors the fallen to the utmost. Courtesy photos from Andrew Foster and Tom Fitzgerald. 

Host Patrick Swan is a board member with the Seminole Wars Foundation. This podcast is recorded at the homestead of the Seminole Wars Foundation in Bushnell, Fla. 

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