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That is kind of dirty for the Air Force to do because they are basically saving money for themselves while asking the other branches to volunteer for their deceased veterans. Though as another pointed out, they deceased veterans don't actually get a traditional 21 gun salute, they haven't for a long time.
I didn't request one for my Dad (but he was army). Truth be told, he probably wouldn't have even wanted Taps or the folding of the flag because he was a very humble guy. Well, I KNOW he wouldn't have wanted it because he told me several times and I told him I was going to do it anyway. Ha!
We compromised by eliminating the 21 gun salute and it was still a beautiful and touching ceremony.
Isn't it 3 shots from seven guns and that's how they get the 21?
I performed 99 military burial details over 4 years in the Marine Corps. We never once had 7 riflemen at a funeral. It was usually 4-6 depending on who was available, plus the SNCO.
Many of the funeral details I was in were two Marines, folding the flag. We had some volunteers from the Frozen Chosin who would play live taps, but for the most part we used a trumpet with an attachment that played taps for you. The Marine would start the speaker and then bring the instrument to their lips and taps would play. Other times we would use a boom box to play taps.
The folded flag is the key and most important part of the ceremony. Expended brass from the rifle volley is sometimes inserted into the flag as it is folded.
Mathematically yes, he's correct but the services do not do 21 gun salutes at service member funerals. It's a rifle detail that fires three volleys. Very different.
I performed 99 military burial details over 4 years in the Marine Corps. We never once had 7 riflemen at a funeral. It was usually 4-6 depending on who was available, plus the SNCO.
Many of the funeral details I was in were two Marines, folding the flag. We had some volunteers from the Frozen Chosin who would play live taps, but for the most part we used a trumpet with an attachment that played taps for you. The Marine would start the speaker and then bring the instrument to their lips and taps would play. Other times we would use a boom box to play taps.
The folded flag is the key and most important part of the ceremony. Expended brass from the rifle volley is sometimes inserted into the flag as it is folded.
Thank you
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