What is the rifle salute? Is that considered a 21 gun salute?
Graveside military honors can include the firing of three volleys consisting of anywhere from three to seven riflemen plus the NCOIC of the detail. This commonly is confused with an entirely separate honor, the 21-gun salute. But the number of individual gun firings in both honors evolved the same way. The three volleys came from an old battlefield custom. The two warring sides would cease hostilities to clear their dead from the battlefield, and the firing of three volleys meant that the dead had been properly cared for and the side was ready to resume the battle. The tradition of firing three volleys also has its roots in ancient rituals where three shouts or noises were made to chase evil spirits from the grave. The tradition of 21-gun salute began as naval one to honor passing vessels. Today guns (or cannons) are fired to honor general officers, and high elected officials such as the president, vice president and state governors. The highest number 21 is used only to salute the pre
