At military funerals, one observes three volleys of shots being fired in honor of the deceased veteran. This is often mistaken by laymen as a 21-gun salute. In the military a "gun" is a large artillery weapon. The three funeral volleys are fired from "rifles," not "guns," therefore, the three volleys do not represent a “gun salute;” they are Funeral Volleys. Anyone entitled to a military funeral (generally anyone who dies on active duty, honorably discharged veterans, and military retirees) is entitled to the firing of three rifle volleys. Subject to availability of honor guard personnel, the firing team must have at least two members; often one sees a team of eight, with a noncommissioned officer in charge of the firing detail. But whether the team consists of three, seven, or ten members, each member fires only three times, three volleys. It is the number of volleys fired not the total number of rounds expended that is counted.
Today, the national salute of 21 guns (Artillery) is fired in honor of a national flag, the sovereign or chief of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family, and the President, ex-President, and President-elect of the United States. It is also fired at noon of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect, on Washington's Birthday, Presidents Day, and the Fourth of July. On Memorial Day, a salute of 21 minute guns is fired at noon while the flag is flown at half mast. Fifty guns are also fired on all military installations equipped to do so at the close of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect.
Gun salutes are also rendered to other military and civilian leaders of this and other nations. The number of guns is based on their protocol rank. These salutes are always in odd numbers. For example, the Vice President of the United States, Secretary Defense, and Secretaries of the Army, Air Force, and Navy, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all rate 19 guns. The highest-ranking generals in the services (Commandants of the Marine Corps, Chief of Naval Operations, and the Army and Air Force Chief of Staffs) all rate 17 guns. Other 4-star generals and admirals rate 17 guns. Three-stars rate 15, two-stars rate 13, and one-stars rate 11.
Today, the national salute of 21 guns (Artillery) is fired in honor of a national flag, the sovereign or chief of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family, and the President, ex-President, and President-elect of the United States. It is also fired at noon of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect, on Washington's Birthday, Presidents Day, and the Fourth of July. On Memorial Day, a salute of 21 minute guns is fired at noon while the flag is flown at half mast. Fifty guns are also fired on all military installations equipped to do so at the close of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect.
Gun salutes are also rendered to other military and civilian leaders of this and other nations. The number of guns is based on their protocol rank. These salutes are always in odd numbers. For example, the Vice President of the United States, Secretary Defense, and Secretaries of the Army, Air Force, and Navy, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all rate 19 guns. The highest-ranking generals in the services (Commandants of the Marine Corps, Chief of Naval Operations, and the Army and Air Force Chief of Staffs) all rate 17 guns. Other 4-star generals and admirals rate 17 guns. Three-stars rate 15, two-stars rate 13, and one-stars rate 11.
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