IS A 21 GUN SALUTE FIRED OVER THE GRAVE AT A MILITARY FUNERAL?
NO and here is why Sometime back, I was asked who rates a 21-gun salute. I’ll answer that, but it is probably not the question that meant to be ask. Gun salutes are fired by naval guns and/or by saluting batteries with artillery pieces. Twenty-one guns are a national (fired in honor of a national flag) or royal salute. The only individuals entitled to this salute are Presidents or former Presidents of the United States, heads of foreign states and members of a reigning royal family. That’s it. Some other personal gun salutes rated are 19 guns for the Vice President and the same for the Secretary of the Navy. The Commandant of the Marine Corps and Chief of Naval Operations also rate 19 guns while other generals and admirals rate 17. Lieutenant generals rate 15, major generals 13 and brigadier generals 11. That’s a very short, partial explanation of gun salutes for individuals. NOTE: There is NO significance that numbers in 1776 add up to 21. Now I’ll try to answer the question I believe
