A 21-gun salute - TX

[CMWinkler]

A 21-gun salute

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Photo by Timothy P. Howsare
Salute

Posted: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 6:00 am | Updated: 9:07 am, Tue May 28, 2013.
By Timothy P. Howsare | 0 comments
A 21-gun salute was held Monday at McLean Hillcrest Cemetery to honor 18 Civil War veterans buried there. The ceremony to honor the soldiers, who all fought for the Confederacy, was held by Sons of Confederate Veterans, Plemons-Shelby Camp 464, based in Amarillo. According to genealogical research done by Sandra Barnes of the Texas Society Order of Confederate Rose, Chapter 51, assisted by John Mead at the Lovett Memorial Library, there are at least 36 Civil War veterans buried in Gray County. Barnes read the names of the Confederate soldiers at Hillcrest. Out of the 36 Civil War veterans buried throughout the county, four fought for the Union. About 100 people attended the ceremony yesterday in McLean.

http://www.thepampanews.com/features/article_e3d09f9e-c743-11e2-82cc-0019bb30f31a.html

 

[Will Posey]

Impressive, but I saw only one cannon. A 21-gun salute consists of 21 cannon, each firing one shot in turn, a salute reserved for heads of state. The three-volley ceremonial salute at funerals is not a 21-gun salute. Militarily, a "gun" is a cannon, not a personal firearm. Normally, at a funeral, seven rifleman, firing three volleys, would fire a total of 21 rounds. However, many such salutes have been rendered by as few as four riflemen. If circumstances limited the number of riflemen even more, it really doesn't matter as long as three volleys are fired.

Will