21 Gun Salute

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

OK, so I'm sitting here watching the presidential burial proceedings on TV, and DD asked me why 21 guns.

The history has something to do with British ships from early times having seven cannons on the side. They would reload and fire three times.

I found this other interesting trivia on the Wikipedia site to share regarding the 21 gun salute:

Deaths of presidents
A U.S. Presidential death also involves 21-gun salutes and other military traditions. On the day after the death of the president, a former president or president-elect — unless this day falls on a Sunday or holiday, in which case the honour will be rendered the following day — the commanders of Army installations with the necessary personnel and material traditionally order that one gun be fired every half hour, beginning at reveille and ending at retreat.

On the day of burial, a 21-minute gun salute traditionally is fired starting at noon at all military installations with the necessary personnel and material. Guns will be fired at one-minute intervals. Also on the day of burial, those installations will fire a 50-gun salute — one round for each state — at five-second intervals immediately following lowering of the flag.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I remember years ago, when I went to Washington DC, the tour guide said it's because if you add up the numbers in 1776, they equal 21

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

interesting trivia--I think the 21-gun salute has been around longer though...

 

[bicker]

Hehe... that's one of those situations where the historical background is created to support the long-standing tradition.

 

[Cool-Beans]

It's just a guess, but since it isn't 21 singles, but three groups of seven, I'm thinking they went with this due to the significance of the numbers three (enough, total) and seven (a complete series.)

This goes back to the bible...I remember little of what I was taught about the bible, but remember the numbers! Three groups of seven is a total, complete tribute.

Could be coincidence, though.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I remember years ago, when I went to Washington DC, the tour guide said it's because if you add up the numbers in 1776, they equal 21

That is correct, or at least what I was taught.

 

[shrubber]

From the US Army site
http://www.army.mil/CMH/faq/salute.htm