21 Gun Salute
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Beginning in the colonial period, the United States fired one shot for each state in the Union as its national salute. This practice was partly a result of usage, because John Paul Jones saluted France with 13 guns at Quiberon Bay in 1778 when the Stars and Stripes received its first salute. The practice was not officially authorized until 1810, when the United States Department of War declared the "national salute" to be equal to the number of states, which was 17 at the time. This was continued until 1841 when the "national salute" was reduced from 26 to 21. In 1842, the United States declared the 21-gun salute as its "Presidential Salute." In 1890, the "national salute" was also formally reestablished as the 21-gun salute, although the traditional Independence Day salute is a 50-gun salute; one round for each of state in the union. This "Salute to the Nation" is fired at noon on July 4 - Independence Day at U.S. military installations. 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, batteries on military installations fire a 21-gun salute to the nation's fallen. As well, batteries at Naval stations and the ships themselves, fire a salute of 21-minute guns and display the ensign at half-mast from 8 a.m. until completion of the salute. A 21-gun salute today 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, foreign Heads of State, (or members of a reigning royal family) as well as to Presidents-elect. In such a ceremony, the national anthem of the visiting dignitary's country is played, following the salute. Each round in a 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 three-gun battery has two of its guns firing, each at five second intervals between rounds, with one gun at the ready in case of a misfire. Such a battery would be used at an Armed Forces Full Honors Funeral, or for an arrival ceremony of a dignitary at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. A four-gun battery has its first three guns firing rounds at three-second intervals, with the fourth gun at the ready in case of misfire. The U.S. Army Standing Operating Procedure for Gun salutes provides a two-man gun crew - one loader and one gunner- for each cannon, as well as a five-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 a stopwatch. 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 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. If this day falls on a Sunday or holiday the honor will be rendered the following day. 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. |
