I would think the reason for our 21 gun salute is whatever
we, as a nation, decide it is.


DSK wrote
There are a bunch of references to the 21-gun salute being due to the
sum of the digits 1776, I can see where Bart got this info.

However they just don't look quite deeply enough into the matter. For
one thing, the 21-gun salute was not standard in the U.S. military until
about 50 years later... and none of the other countries using the 21-gun
salute have any reason whatever to honor the year 1776.

Wolfie wrote:
Argue with the Army's Center for Military History and the
Navy's Naval Historical Center:

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/faq/salute.htm

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq40-1.htm


I found this a rather interesting discussion too. Maybe we can lure some
of these guys to participate here on A.S.A.?

http://www.regiments.org/wombats/classics/21gun.txt

Fresh Breezes- Doug 'And Keep Your Powder Dry' King