Song ’21 Guns’ Meaning
Words: 1093 1308Few military traditions are as instantly recognizable as the sound of rifles firing in unison over a flag-draped casket or across a harbor during a state visit. Audiences hear it at presidential funerals, national holidays, and ceremonies honoring foreign leaders, yet most people would struggle to explain why the number twenty-one carries such weight. The phrase "21 guns" actually refers to two related but distinct customs: the 21-gun salute fired by artillery to honor heads of state and national symbols, […]