21 Guns — Honoring George H.W. Bush
On Wednesday, December 5th, an official day of mourning for former President George H.W. Bush, a nation had the opportunity to observe some of the time-honored traditions of the military and say thank you and goodbye to a great public servant.
The passing of Bush 41 is a significant milestone for my generation of Baby Boomers, the generation that were the children of the World War II era folks. It was during time that many of we Boomers were moving well into our adult lives and work during his years as both Vice-President and President. His death, like so many of us whose parents have passed, is a very poignant sign that the years of the Greatest Generation are coming to a close.
Speaking as one old soldier George H.W. Bush had the respect of so many of us in the military. The fact that he’d seen and tasted combat and experienced the death of two of his crewmen gave him a serious, non-glorious view of war.
It was under his leadership, in the ’90s that so many of us in the military, Active, Guard and Reserve were called up in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
While he and his National Security Team have been criticized for ending the war prematurely, in his heart, he knew that the mission had been accomplished. To him, there was no “glory” in war.
Yesterday, I received a notice from my friends at Fort Carson, Colorado, where my son-in-law served, and where a couple of friends continue to serve, one as a Battalion Chaplain and one as a Brigade Commander. This note explained the honors that would be happening on the post, as well as many posts across the U.S.Army. I hope that you will indulge me as I hopefully share some insights into some of the traditions we witnessed on this day.
The tradition of firing gun salutes is a centuries-old practice.
The tradition of the cannon salute originated in the 14th Century as firearms and cannons came into use.
The 21-gun salute evolved into the highest honor a nation can render.
The gun salute system of the United States Military was codified in 1818 by the U.S. Navy. Those regulations required that “When the President shall visit a ship of the U.S. Navy, he is to be saluted with 21 guns.
When this regulation was published the U.S. was made up of 21 states, it is a tradition that continues today.
Here is an outtake from the memorandum:
Tuesday, 4 Dec
All flags will be lowered to half-mast for 30 days.
A one-round cannon salute will be fired every half hour from Reveille, 6:30a.m. to retreat, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, 5 Dec
Office Closed
Thursday, 6 Dec
A 21-gun salute will be fired at one-minute intervals at noon.
Another round of 50-round cannon salute will be fired at five-second intervals at Retreat at 5:00 p.m.
Today, the national 21-gun salute is fired in honor of the National Flag, the sovereign head of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family, the President, former President, or the President-elect.
The fifty-gun salute is fired on all military installations equipped to do so at the close of the day of the funeral of the President, Former President, or President-Elect, which in this case will be Thursday. This final salute is an official goodbye where each cannon shot represents each of the states of the United States.
In addition to these various salutes, President George H.W. Bush will also receive, like every other qualified veteran a “rifle volley,” which is different from the 21-gun salute.
At military funerals, one often observes three volley shots fired in honor of the deceased veteran. It is often mistaken by non-service members as a 21- gun salute, although it is different. In the military, a “gun” is a large-bore weapon. The three volleys are fired from “rifles,” not “guns.”
Anybody, who is entitled to a military funeral is entitled to three volleys when it is available.
The three volleys came from an old battlefield custom. The two warring parties would engage in a ceasefire to attend to the wounded and clear the dead from the battlefield, once the field was cleared the three volleys were fired. The three volleys were seen as a symbolic goodbye to the deceased as well as a signal to continue hostilities.
As a retired Army Chaplain, who has officiated in a few military funerals, the three-shot volley and sounding of Taps is a somber final salute and goodbye for a service member.
As we as a nation mourn the loss of a great man, it is essential that we have some understanding of some of the time-honored traditions that the United States of America has formulated over the years.
In our fast-paced, high-tech, instantly connected world, this celebration of the life of President Bush reminds us of the essential values of selfless service, sacrifice, and integrity.
I hope that this post will give you a little more understanding of some of our great traditions.
May God Bless You, and may God Bless the United States of American.
John H. Thurman Jr. Chaplain (Major) USAR (Ret)
Pro Deo Et Patria
