21 gun salute question

[blue]

Yes blanks have shells, just no projectiles. Link, notice the neck of the cartrage is pinched off and there is no bullit present.

My many respects to your father.

[caseysmom]

Okay thanks, I thought it was something like that but I had a hard time explaining it. I still have my dad's uniform from the army, its pretty cool my daughter may take it to class.

[ramanth]

My grandfather also got a 21 gun salute. I meant to keep one of the shells, but it didn't cross my mind at the time. My sister played Taps at the funeral. She kept it together so well, I was so proud of her.

[blue]

Ive seen the 21 Gun Salute before but never looked into its history, found here.

What is the origin of the 21-gun salute?

The use of gun salutes for military occasions is traced to early warriors who demonstrated their peaceful intentions by placing their weapons in a position that rendered them ineffective. Apparently this custom was universal, with the specific act varying with time and place, depending on the weapons being used. A North African tribe, for example, trailed the points of their spears on the ground to indicate that they did not mean to be hostile.

The tradition of rendering a salute by cannon originated in the 14th century as firearms and cannons came into use. Since these early devices contained only one projectile, discharging them once rendered them ineffective. Originally warships fired seven-gun salutes--the number seven probably selected because of its astrological and Biblical significance. Seven planets had been identified and the phases of the moon changed every seven days. The Bible states that God rested on the seventh day after Creation, that every seventh year was sabbatical and that the seven times seventh year ushered in the Jubilee year.

Land batteries, having a greater supply of gunpowder, were able to fire three guns for every shot fired afloat, hence the salute by shore batteries was 21 guns. The multiple of three probably was chosen because of the mystical significance of the number three in many ancient civilizations. Early gunpowder, composed mainly of sodium nitrate, spoiled easily at sea, but could be kept cooler and drier in land magazines. When potassium nitrate improved the quality of gunpowder, ships at sea adopted the salute of 21 guns.

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.

The gun salute system of the United States has changed considerably over the years. In 1810, the "national salute" 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.

In 1842, the Presidential salute was formally established at 21 guns. In 1890, regulations designated the "national salute" as 21 guns and redesignated the traditional Independence Day salute, the "Salute to the Union," 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.

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.

Source: Headquarters, Military District of Washington, FACT SHEET: GUN SALUTES, May 1969.

[caseysmom]

Thanks Blue he was a good man. Unfortunately he got alzheimers the last years of his life.

He was just a soldier as far as.I know he had no ranking I wish I had paid more attentiion to the stories. He fought in the Korean war.

[blue]

Is your father at Arlington?

Ive been there before and plan to go back to actually visit graves and pay my respects to individuals rather then just visiting the memorials.

[caseysmom]

No, him and my Mom purchased a crypt here in town in the section reserved for the military, its called the court of honor. My grandparents and some aunts and uncles are there too and I am trying to get my brothers ashes added to the crypt, just waiting since it costs thousands to do that.

[caseysmom]

Here's Dad...



That uniform is in my closet.