What Is A 21 Gun Salute?

Answer 1

THEY SHOOT OFF 21 GUNS AS A SALUTE FOR THE DECEASED. SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN SERVICE.

Answer 2

Typically it's 7 guns fired 3 times in a ceremonial salute.

Answer 3

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/faq/salute.htm

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.

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.

Answer 4

It's usually 7 rifleman simultaneously firing 3 seperate rapports as a salute of honor during a ceremony.

Answer 5

It used to be a ceremonial tribute to a deceased soldier or statesman, though I think now it is only reserved for statesmen. It usually involves seven soldiers firing their rifles unanimously, reloading and firing again, repeating the process until a total of 21 shots has been fired.

Answer 6

21 shots fired into the air> mainly used 4th of july oR Canada day, any sday of celebration. But it can also b used to honor fallen soldiers @ remembrence day

Answer 7

from the wikipedia:
In 1842, the United States declared the 21-gun salute as its "Presidential Salute." In 1890, the "national salute" was formally reestablished as the 21-gun salute, and the traditional Independence Day salute of one gun for each of the states was declared as the "Salute to the Nation" or "Salute to the Union." The salute is staged only at noon on July 4, Independence Day at U.S. military installations, although it has been given on a few other occasions, such as the death of a president. The U.S. Navy full-dresses ships and fires 21 guns at noon on July 4, Independence Day and February 22, Presidents' Day. On Memorial Day, all ships and Naval stations fire a salute of 21-minute guns and display the ensign at half-mast from 8 a.m. until completion of the salute.

Today, a 21-gun salute is rendered on the arrival and departure of the President of the United States; it is fired in concordance with four ruffles and flourishes, which is immediately followed by Hail to the Chief -- the actual gun salute begins with the first ruffle and flourish, and concludes after Hail to the Chief has ended. A 21-gun salute is also rendered to former U.S. Presidents, as well as to Presidents-elect. In the U.S., 21-gun salutes are also fired upon the arrival and departure of a foreign heads of state, or heads of a reigning royal family. In such a ceremony, the national anthem of the visiting dignitary's country is played, following the salute.

Each round in a 21-gun salute is fired one at a time. The number of cannon used in a battery depends upon the intervals between each round fired. For example, a 3-gun battery has 2 of its guns firing, each at 5 second intervals between rounds, with 1 gun at the ready in case of a misfire; such a battery would be used at an arrival ceremony for the President at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. A 4-gun battery has its first 3 guns firing rounds at 3 second intervals, with the 4th gun (again) at the ready in case of misfire.
Constitution renders a 21-gun salute to Fort Independence during her Independence Day turnaround cruise.
Constitution renders a 21-gun salute to Fort Independence during her Independence Day turnaround cruise.

The U.S. Army SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for Gun salutes provides a 2-man gun crew (one loader, one gunner) for each cannon, as well as a 5-man 'staff' of soldiers to give the fire commands. The staff includes an Officer in Charge, a watchman (who marks the intervals and signals each gun to fire), an assistant watchman (as a backup), a counter (who keeps track of the number of rounds fired and signals the last round to the Officer in Charge), and a Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (who marches the battery into place as well as signals the backup cannon to fire in case another gun misfires).

Naval vessels now have saluting guns installed which are used solely for such purpose. The traditional timing chant, "If I wasn't a sailor, I wouldn't be here. Fire #1," etc., has been replaced by stopwatch.

[edit] 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.