A gun salute or cannon salute is the use of a piece of artillery to fire shots, often 21 in number, with the aim of marking an honor or celebrating a joyful event. It is a tradition in many countries around the world.
A cannon on a naval vessel's deck fired during the arrival of a dignitary
Het kanonschot painting by Willem van de Velde the Younger.
The U.S. Navy Munitions Command, detachment Sewells Point, performs a 21-gun salute at Iowa Point in honor of former President Gerald R. Ford's death a few days prior.
The Saluting Battery in Valletta firing a gun salute
A 21-gun salute is the most commonly recognized of the customary gun salutes that are performed by the firing of cannons or artillery as a military honor. As naval customs evolved, 21 guns came to be fired for heads of state, or in exceptional circumstances for heads of government, with the number decreasing with the rank of the recipient of the honor. While the 21-gun salute is the most commonly recognized, the number of rounds fired in any given salute will vary depending on the conditions. Circumstances affecting these variations include the particular occasion and, in the case of military and state funerals, the branch of service, and rank of the person to whom honors are being rendered.
The U.S. Navy Munitions Command, detachment Sewells Point, performs a 21-gun salute at Iowa Point in honor of former President Gerald R. Ford's death a few days prior.
A Dutch man-of-war firing a salute. The Cannon Shot, painting by Willem van de Velde the Younger.
27-gun salute from Kronborg Castle to mark the 69th birthday of Queen Margrethe II
75mm gun firing 21 shots near Les Invalides for the inauguration of François Hollande as President of the French Republic
