Why 21 guns, brah?

[blakjeezis]

<font face="impact,chicago"><font face="verdana,geneva">In the salute? What's origin, what's the significance of 21? First person to point out that it's actually 7 men, each shooting thrice, gets me making sure that everyday is the worst of his or her life.</font><br /></font> <span class="post_edited"></span>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by blakjeezis on 2-28-07 @ 1:20 AM</span>

[reeshy]

It's a milatary custom....do&nbsp; google, bro!!!

[reeshy]

<p>The 21-gun salute became the highest honor a nation rendered. Varying customs among the maritime powers led to confusion in saluting and return of salutes. Great Britain, the world's preeminent seapower in the 18th and 19th centuries, compelled weaker nations to salute first, and for a time monarchies received more guns than did republics. Eventually, by agreement, the international salute was established at 21 guns, although the United States did not agree on this procedure until August 1875. </p> <p>The gun salute system of the United States has changed considerably over the years. In 1810, the &quot;national salute&quot; was defined by the War Department as equal to the number of states in the Union--at that time 17. This salute was fired by all U.S. military installations at 1:00 p.m. (later at noon) on Independence Day. The President also received a salute equal to the number of states whenever he visited a military installation.</p> <p>In 1842, the Presidential salute was formally established at 21 guns. In 1890, regulations designated the &quot;national salute&quot; as 21 guns and redesignated the traditional Independence Day salute, the &quot;Salute to the Union,&quot; equal to the number of states. 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.</p> <p>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.</p> 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

[reeshy]

You're welcome!!!

[waltermitty]

<p><font size="2">My understanding of it is...</font></p><p>&nbsp;<font size="2">7 guys...21 shots..</font></p><p><font size="2">1-7-7-6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </font></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[mdr55]

Not to be politically correct or anything but it's 7 soldiers (both men and women). My uncle had a 21 gun salute last year when he passed away and it was pretty cool and also how they folded the flag too and the trumpeteer.<br />

[ralphbxny]

Its all answered already...that Reeshy is&nbsp;a fine human!!!