# 21-gun salutes vs. funeral volleys **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [October 8, 2001, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-gun-salutes-vs-funeral-volleys/86159 "2001-10-08T17:57:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-gun-salutes-vs-funeral-volleys/86159/1 "2001-10-08T17:57:16Z")
Regarding this column: [What’s the origin of the 21-gun salute?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/m21gun.html) In the last paragraph, **Ian** seems to be confusing funeral volleys with 21-gun salutes. This was addressed by **micco** in this [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=91726) with this [link](http://www.mca-marines.org/Leatherneck/21gunarch.htm). > [@](#): > > Anyone entitled to military honors is entitled to the volleys, subject to the availability of a firing detail. Somehow this has become confused with a 21-gun salute… > > The three volleys fired at a funeral are just that, nothing more. They are not a 21-gun salute or any other gun salute… > > Why then are so many people today confused and erroneously call the three volleys a 21-gun salute? Who knows? Possibly because someone saw a seven-member detail fire three rounds at a funeral. He may have multiplied the three rounds by seven and decided that this must be a 21-gun salute. And it caught on and spread-and spread. Never mind the fact that he should have been taught at boot camp that a rifle is not a gun. Also, firing details can consist of any number of riflemen, but in years gone by the standard was eight riflemen with a noncommissioned officer in charge. How do you conceivably get a 21-gun salute out of these? > > You don’t.