Why do a 21 gun salute

The reason has been lost with time and the custom was not regulated by formal instruction until the early 19th century. It is interesting to note that all salutes are fired with an odd number of guns and it seems that there may have been a suggestion with regards to odd numbers being lucky. In the early days of gun salutes, the Royal Navy fired even numbers for funerals, while odd numbers were fired for the living.

One theory for the origin of the odd numbers comes from the navy. The decks carried even amounts of guns but from there the approaching personage could not be seen, so a poop-deck gun was fired first as a signal for the commencement of the salute.

The argument for the odd numbers on land was that the first gun was a station time gun which was fired at midday, the same time as salutes generally commenced. The first formal regulations were laid down for the navy in but these only dealt with naval officers. In the 21st century, the gun salute is rendered in honor of a national flag, heads of state, royal families, the president, former presidents , and where applicable the president-elect of the United States.

Gun salutes in general are rendered for other military and civilian leaders, but the number of guns in these salutes will be in odd numbers and will vary depending on rank, plus traditional customs and courtesies. This battery handles ceremonial gun-salute honors in general officer funerals and retirements.

It is also responsible for full honor burials of sitting and former presidents of the United States. Other duties include providing similar honors at funerals for sitting cabinet secretaries and flag officers. Did you know there is actually a gun salute reserved specifically for the closing ceremonies of a funeral for a U. Connect With Us facebook instagram pinterest twitter youtube. Enter your email for updates. Name Required First Last. Then, at a specific time, they aim their weapons up to the sky and fire, usually causing a slight stir in the crowd, even though everyone was expecting it to happen.

This practice is quite common throughout the world and, as with many traditions, it has a practical origin. Back when ships carried cannons, it was universally understood that immediately after firing, these weapons were rendered ineffective for a period of time — after all, reloading took a while.

Nobody knows why ships were designed, at one point, to carry precisely seven cannon.