2007-01-02 05:50:52 · 4 answers · asked by lawrence p 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
A 21-gun salute is called a Royal Salute in the British Commonwealth (in the British Empire it had been reserved, mainly among colonial princely states, for the most prestigious category of native rulers of so-called salute states), unless rendered to the president or flag of a republic; even then it is colloquially called "royal". For example, it would be said of the President of the United States, if saluted in Canada, that he received a "royal salute." However, the salutes fired at the Tower of London to mark the anniversaries of the birth, accession, coronation of the Sovereign, and other royal occasions are in fact 62 guns, and 41 guns are fired at Hyde Park or Green Park on Royal occasions. When President George W. Bush made his visit to the United Kingdom in 2003, 41 guns were fired.
In the United States, the 21-gun salute is used as a Presidential Salute as well as a Salute to the Nation when fired at noon on Memorial Day — a 50-gun salute (one gun for each state of the Union) is fired at noon on the 4th of July.
The 21-gun salute is not to be confused with the 3-volley salute using rifles for most military servicemembers or shotguns for police officers at their funerals.
2007-01-02 05:56:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Today the national salute of 21 guns 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.
2007-01-02 11:03:14 · answer #2 · answered by Mother of a Marine 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they have the 21 guns sulate for the military personal also. It is out of respect to the person who served this country.
2007-01-02 12:18:00 · answer #3 · answered by buddy95 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They want to make sure they are dead. If they don't wake up after that many shots, they must really be dead.
2007-01-02 05:59:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋