Twenty-One Gun Salute FAQ's

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for all of the men and women who have died while serving in the US Armed Forces. And, while many mark the date as the start of their summer vacation, in reality, Memorial Day is a somber holiday in which a Twenty-One Gun Salute is fired and moments of silence are observed nationwide.

While a "Salute of 21" always takes place at noon, no matter the federal occasion (i.e. a President's funeral, or the 4th of July), on Memorial Day, a “Salute of 21” takes place solely with the American flag being flown at half-mast.

Why Not an Eighteen-Gun Salute?

According to the Naval Historical Center, the interpretation of gun salutes in odd numbers goes back many centuries. For example, Seven-Gun Salutes were widely used based on the superstition and notion that the number 7 had mystical powers. Ironically, Thirteen-Gun Salutes were prevalent as well, despite the number 13 now having a modern reputation as being “jinxed digits.” What hasn’t changed, however, is that if an even number of salute rounds are shot, it unfortunately signifies that a ship’s master or captain died in voyage.

21 if by Land, 21 if by Sea

While the gun salute originally stemmed from naval practices, it is not uncommon for salutes to be held on land. One of the more common places you will see this tradition upheld is at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day. As custom dictates – which is 12 noon ET - the President of the United States will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and a Twenty-One Gun Salute will follow to honor and respect those who have fallen in the line of armed forces duty.

2014 Reminder: Memorial Day will be observed Monday, May 26th