LH> Thanks, Donna, that makes sense about the guns.  It seems it is not 
LH> any of the military handbooks either.  Talked to active duty guy loc
LH> and he's checking with buddy on Arlington honor guard.  Surely they 
LH> know.  Most so far seem to think it's just tradition.  Also heard fr
 
Hi Lori,
 
  I take it you were looking for information on the origins of the 21 
Gun Salute?  I found two items on the WWW that are pretty good the 
first one follows below and the second one is in a separate message.
 
    - Dale
 
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		Origins of the 21-Gun Salute
 
The 21-gun salute honoring the President of the United States, like 
many American military traditions, appears to be another custom 
inherited from Great Britain.  In early times, it was customary for 
a ship entering a friendly port to discharge its broadsides to 
demonstrate that they were then unloaded, and it became a British 
practice to fire a seven-gun salute.  The forts ashore would fire 
three shots for each shot fired afloat.  The three guns fired on 
shore to one gun fired on ship had a practical explanation.  In 
earlier days, gunpowder was made of sodium nitrate and was easier to 
keep on shore than at sea.  When gunpowder was improved by the use of 
potassium nitrate, the sea salute was made equal to the shore salute.  
The use of the numbers seven and three in early gun salutes probably 
was connected to the mystical or religious significance surrounding 
these numbers in many cultures.
 
Gun salutes continue to be fired in odd numbers, of course, and this 
is likely because of ancient superstitions that uneven numbers are 
lucky.  As early as 1685, the firing of an even number of guns in 
salute was taken as indicating that a ship's captain, master, or 
master gunner had died on a voyage.  Indeed, the firing of an even 
number of salute guns at the coronation of George VI in 1937 was 
regarded by at least one observer as an ominous portent.  
Incidentally, the normal interval of five seconds in the firing of 
gun salutes likely is in order for the salute to have full auditory 
effect, and also to give the salute a more solemn character.
 
The United States presidential salute has not always been 21 guns.  
In 1812 and 1821 it was the same as the number of states, i.e. 18 
and 24, respectively, which was also our international salute.  
After 1841 the President received a salute of 21 guns and the Vice 
President 17; currently the Vice President receives a salute of 19 
guns.
 
There has evolved over the last 175 years or so a prescribed number 
of guns, set forth in various Army regulations, to be fired for 
various dignitaries in accordance with the perceived importance of 
their positions.  On 18 August 1875, the United States and Great 
Britain announced an agreement to return salutes gun for gun, 
with the 21-gun salute as the highest national honor.
 
Today, a 21-gun salute on arrival and departure, with 4 ruffles and 
flourishes, is rendered to the President of the United States, to 
an ex-president, and to a President elect. The national anthem or 
Hail to the Chief, as appropriate, is played for the President, and 
the national anthem for the others.  A 21-gun salute on arrival 
and departure with 4 ruffles and flourishes also is rendered to the 
sovereign or chief of state of a foreign country, or a member of 
a reigning royal family.  In these ceremonies, the national anthem 
of his or her country also is played.
 
Incidentally, U.S. Naval Regulations require that a 21-gun salute 
be fired at noon on Presidents Day, Independence Day, and Memorial 
Day.
 
Reference Section, History and Museums Division, February 1996
(From the US Marine Corps website)
--- TriDog 10.0
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