Why is the three Volley Salute for a funeral called a 21 Gun Salute by so many?

SPC Bill Livingston — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 20:34:34 -0500

Why do so many people get this wrong? If veterans don't correct this, then no one will ever get it right. It really annoys me and when I try to explain the difference, no one seems to care. I'll get a blank stare or they say that people won't know what a Three Volley Salute is, they only know it as a 21 Gun Salute. Am I the only person that thinks this should be corrected?

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Dec 30 at 2015 8:50 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 20:50:15 -0500

Confusion probably. A 3 Volley salute is comprised of 3-7 rifles, usually odd numbers. If you have 7 rifles times 3 shots, you get 21 reports. That's were it gets confused with a 21 gun salute which is from a battery. Actually 21 guns is for heads of state while lesser number of battery firings denote lower ranked officials.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2015 10:11 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 22:11:09 -0500

SPC Bill Livingston Can you please explain the difference?

Response by PVT Robert Gresham made Dec 30 at 2015 10:12 PM

PVT Robert Gresham — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 22:12:45 -0500

Actually, as late as 1987, SPC Bill Livingston, when I was the NCOIC for the funeral detail out of Ft. Hood, Texas, we still used seven Riflemen, and 3 volleys. I guess that I pretty much assumed that it was always done this way. Thanks for the heads up.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2015 11:37 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 23:37:26 -0500

SPC Bill Livingston Considering that this topic would mostly likely come up in relation to a civilian attending a funeral I'd suggest this is one of those times when it's best to let it slide rather than make a point to correct them. To most civilians a "21 gun salute" is really just a generic term for when the military honors someone by firing weapons. IMO it's OK for civilians to not to be held to the technical standards for military terminology. After all, they're civilians.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Dec 31 at 2015 8:13 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 20:13:30 -0500

I did a number of military funerals and it never occurred to me to correct a grieving family member or friend no matter what they said. The occasion was sad enough as it was without me adding to it.

Response by PO2 Jeffery Marcussen Sr made Dec 31 at 2015 8:31 PM

PO2 Jeffery Marcussen Sr — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 20:31:03 -0500

thank you for the refresher it has been a long time since i had been taught the difference that i had forgotten it but to me rather it is cannon fire or rifle fire it is still a 21 gun salute to a person who has earned the respect to have it done at their passing. granted one is of higher position then the other both were earned regardless of caliber shot.

Response by SR Phillip Batz made Jan 7 at 2019 8:20 PM

SR Phillip Batz — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 20:20:45 -0500

It's three volleys of seven guns, as 21 actual guns would be difficult to assemble for all equally deserved ceremonies.

Response by GySgt Kenneth Pepper made Apr 21 at 2021 12:16 PM

GySgt Kenneth Pepper — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 12:16:31 -0400

Here's a suggestion; these days it is common to have a printed "In Memory of" pamphlet at a funeral. Arrange for the proper explanation to be printed on yours and encourage others to do so as well. The more people do it, the more we educate to general public.
Example:
"The three rifle volley consists of no less than three and no more than seven rifles firing three volleys in memory of the fallen. The original history comes from the Roman era that at the end of the day of battle when the field of battle was cleared, if the soldier removing the slain soldier knew the name of the soldier, then they would call his name three times into the night as a form of remembering their sacrifice."
"Typically three fired cartridges are placed into the folded flag prior to presentation to the next of kin; the cartridges signify "duty, honor, and sacrifice.”"

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jul 3 at 2022 11:03 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Sun, 03 Jul 2022 11:03:35 -0400

Math: 3 vollies times seven riflemen equals 21.