Monthly Archives: April 2021
The firing of three volleys over the grave of a soldier can be traced back to the Roman Empire. The multiple of three probably was chosen because of the mystical significance of the number three in many ancient civilizations. After the burial rites, the Romans would shout the name of the deceased three times followed by the word “vale”(farewell) to insure that it would never be forgotten. There is also a practice of throwing three spadeful of dirt onto a coffin. The practice of firing volleys may have originated in the old custom of halting the fighting to remove the dead from the battlefield. Once each army had cleared its dead, it would fire three volleys to indicate that deceased soldiers had been cared for and that the army was ready to resume the fight. Although I must admit I have never found a written reference to this ever happening. And I’ve not seen this in any type of manuals. The closest I’ve seen is the call or signal for a parley. The tradition of firing the three volleys at funerals was noted in regulations and manuals. There was no original number of rifles called for in a rifle salute. There are photos of funerals at Arlington in the late 19th century were the entire platoon is firing. In modern-day ceremonies, the fact that the firing party consists of seven riflemen firing three volleys does not constitute a twenty-one gun salute; that is only rendered by cannon firing twenty-one times.
The firing of three volleys over the grave of a soldier can be traced back to the Roman Empire. The multiple of three probably was chosen because of the mystical significance of the number three in many ancient civilizations. After the burial rites, the Romans would shout the name of the deceased three times followed by the word “vale”(farewell) to insure that it would never be forgotten. There is also a practice of throwing three spadeful of dirt onto a coffin. The practice of firing volleys may have originated in the old custom of halting the fighting to remove the dead from the battlefield. Once each army had cleared its dead, it would fire three volleys to indicate that deceased soldiers had been cared for and that the army was ready to resume the fight. Although I must admit I have never found a written reference to this ever happening. And I’ve not seen this in any type of manuals. The closest I’ve seen is the call or signal for a parley. The tradition of firing the three volleys at funerals was noted in regulations and manuals. There was no original number of rifles called for in a rifle salute. There are photos of funerals at Arlington in the late 19th century were the entire platoon is firing. In modern-day ceremonies, the fact that the firing party consists of seven riflemen firing three volleys does not constitute a twenty-one gun salute; that is only rendered by cannon firing twenty-one times.
If you’ve ever attended a military funeral, perhaps you noticed that the honor guards pay meticulous attention to folding the U.S. flag that once draped the casket. Guards make crisp, precise folds a total of 13 times to complete the ceremony. Much like every other aspect of our nation’s greatest symbol, each of the 13 folds holds a special significance. Flag etiquette dictates that every time an American flag is to be stored or presented during a ceremony, its handlers should fold it in half twice lengthwise; then starting with the end opposite the blue field, make a taut triangular fold. Handlers continue to fold the flag in triangles until the flag has formed a triangular “pillow” with the blue field showing on the outside. It’s a dignified way to treat the flag, and gives a powerful touch to patriotic ceremonies. This 13-fold procedure was common long before the more modern assigned meanings. The source and date of origin of the meanings is unknown, but for those who participate or witness a formal flag folding ceremony, the 13 meanings can create an uplifting experience.
If you’ve ever attended a military funeral, perhaps you noticed that the honor guards pay meticulous attention to folding the U.S. flag that once draped the casket. Guards make crisp, precise folds a total of 13 times to complete the ceremony. Much like every other aspect of our nation’s greatest symbol, each of the 13 folds holds a special significance. Flag etiquette dictates that every time an American flag is to be stored or presented during a ceremony, its handlers should fold it in half twice lengthwise; then starting with the end opposite the blue field, make a taut triangular fold. Handlers continue to fold the flag in triangles until the flag has formed a triangular “pillow” with the blue field showing on the outside. It’s a dignified way to treat the flag, and gives a powerful touch to patriotic ceremonies. This 13-fold procedure was common long before the more modern assigned meanings. The source and date of origin of the meanings is unknown, but for those who participate or witness a formal flag folding ceremony, the 13 meanings can create an uplifting experience.
Horse-drawn caissons with large custom wooden wheels are kept in service to transport the casket. Traditionally, they were used to move artillery ammunition and cannons. The caisson is pulled by a team of specially bred and selected horses purchased or donated to the platoon. The Army’s caisson platoon provides support for military funerals for every branch of service. The soldiers who handle the horses that pull the caisson are trained infantrymen. The Army teaches them to be expert horsemen and undergo training on a special riding style used only by the Army. The horses have to be trained to endure the sound of rifle fire, flags and crowds of people. If you witness a funeral at Arlington, you may notice a horse without a rider among the team. This special horse is led behind the caisson and casket, wearing an empty saddle with the rider’s boots reversed in the stirrups — a symbol that the warrior will never ride again.
Horse-drawn caissons with large custom wooden wheels are kept in service to transport the casket. Traditionally, they were used to move artillery ammunition and cannons. The caisson is pulled by a team of specially bred and selected horses purchased or donated to the platoon. The Army’s caisson platoon provides support for military funerals for every branch of service. The soldiers who handle the horses that pull the caisson are trained infantrymen. The Army teaches them to be expert horsemen and undergo training on a special riding style used only by the Army. The horses have to be trained to endure the sound of rifle fire, flags and crowds of people. If you witness a funeral at Arlington, you may notice a horse without a rider among the team. This special horse is led behind the caisson and casket, wearing an empty saddle with the rider’s boots reversed in the stirrups — a symbol that the warrior will never ride again.
A caisson escorting the remains of a veteran travel to their final resting place, under the shadow of the Washington Monument, as seen from Arlington National Cemetery. Recently, a push and change in legislature advocated for Medal of Honor recipients and prisoners of war to receive full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. “Full military honors ceremonies remind us of the service and valor demonstrated by those who have defended, protected, and sacrificed for freedom and democracy,” Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) said in a statement. A Navy veteran himself, Panetta introduced the legislation in the House. “This is a simple, but necessary fix that provides these selfless veterans with the honors they deserve,” Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), a Navy SEAL veteran who co-sponsored the House bill stated. In the case of Medal of Honor recipients, Arlington National Cemetery currently offers “full military honors,” though it’s a relatively new development, having gone into effect on Jan. 11, 2019.
A caisson escorting the remains of a veteran travel to their final resting place, under the shadow of the Washington Monument, as seen from Arlington National Cemetery. Recently, a push and change in legislature advocated for Medal of Honor recipients and prisoners of war to receive full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. “Full military honors ceremonies remind us of the service and valor demonstrated by those who have defended, protected, and sacrificed for freedom and democracy,” Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) said in a statement. A Navy veteran himself, Panetta introduced the legislation in the House. “This is a simple, but necessary fix that provides these selfless veterans with the honors they deserve,” Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), a Navy SEAL veteran who co-sponsored the House bill stated. In the case of Medal of Honor recipients, Arlington National Cemetery currently offers “full military honors,” though it’s a relatively new development, having gone into effect on Jan. 11, 2019.
The use of gun salutes for military occasions is traced to early warriors who demonstrated their peaceful intentions by placing their weapons in a position that rendered them ineffective. Apparently this custom was universal, with the specific act varying with time and place, depending on the weapons being used. A North African tribe, for example, trailed the points of their spears on the ground to indicate that they did not mean to be hostile. The tradition of rendering a salute by cannon originated in the 14th century as firearms and cannons came into use. Since these early devices contained only one projectile, discharging them once rendered them ineffective. Originally warships fired seven-gun salutes–the number seven probably selected because of its astrological and Biblical significance. Seven planets had been identified and the phases of the moon changed every seven days. The Bible states that God rested on the seventh day after Creation, that every seventh year was sabbatical and that the seven times seventh year ushered in the Jubilee year. Land batteries, having a greater supply of gunpowder, were able to fire three guns for every shot fired afloat, hence the salute by shore batteries was 21 guns. The multiple of three probably was chosen because of the mystical significance of the number three in many ancient civilizations. Early gunpowder, composed mainly of sodium nitrate, spoiled easily at sea, but could be kept cooler and drier in land magazines. When potassium nitrate improved the quality of gunpowder, ships at sea adopted the salute of 21 guns. The 21-gun salute became the highest honor a nation rendered. Today the national salute of 21 guns is fired in honor of a national flag, the sovereign or chief of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family, and the President, ex-President and President-elect of the United States. It is also fired at noon of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect.
