Sadly nowadays many Americans now think of this weekend as purely the start of summer and BBQ season and an opportunity to hit the stores to grab a few sale bargains.
Sadly nowadays many Americans now think of this weekend as purely the start of summer and BBQ season and an opportunity to hit the stores to grab a few sale bargains.
What is the origin of the 21-gun salute?
The use of gun salutes for military occasions is traced to early warriors who demonstrated their peaceful intentions by placing their weapons in a position that rendered them ineffective. Apparently this custom was universal, with the specific act varying with time and place, depending on the weapons being used. A North African tribe, for example, trailed the points of their spears on the ground to indicate that they did not mean to be hostile.
The 21-gun salute became the highest honor a nation rendered. Varying customs among the maritime powers led to confusion in saluting and return of salutes. Great Britain, the world's preeminent seapower in the 18th and 19th centuries, compelled weaker nations to salute first, and for a time monarchies received more guns than did republics. Eventually, by agreement, the international salute was established at 21 guns, although the United States did not agree on this procedure until August 1875.
Click here for further details
Today, the national salute of 21 guns is fired in honor of a national flag, the soverign or chief of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family, and the President, ex-President, and President-elect of the United States. It is also fired at noon of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect, on Washington's Birthday, Presidents Day, and the Fourth of July. On Memorial Day, a salute of 21 minute guns is fired at noon while the flag is flown at half mast. Click here for further information
A 21-gun salute is fired by the members of the U.S. Army
The 21-gun salute is a military honour performed when a battery of cannon is fired 21 times
A 21-gun salute is called a Royal Salute in the British Commonwealth (in the British Empire it had been reserved, mainly among colonial princely states, for the most prestigeous category of native rulers of so-called salute states), unless rendered to the president or flag of a republic; even then it is colloquially called "royal". For example, it would be said of the President of the United States, if saluted in Canada, that he received a "royal salute." However, the salutes fired at the Tower of London to mark the anniversaries of the birth, accession, coronation of the Sovereign, and other royal occasions are in fact 62 guns, and 41 guns are fired at Hyde Park or Green Park on Royal occasions. When President George W. Bush made his visit to the United Kingdom in 2003, 41 guns were fired.
In the United States, the 21-gun salute is used as a Presidential Salute as well as a Salute to the Nation when fired at noon on Memorial Day -- a 50-gun salute is fired at noon on the 4th of July.
The 21-gun salute is not to be confused with the 3-volley salute using rifles for most military servicemembers or shotguns for police officers at their funerals.
Click here for further details
In addition to finding the above excellent information Proud Yank found these heart warming photos which are a great reminder of what we are actually fighting for in the WOT.
Whitsun was though the traditional end of winter and many spring and summer type events were organised around that weekend. Spring Bank Holiday weekend has continued that tradition even if sadly the religious element of the holiday is no longer celebrated.
A few years ago I went to a Spring Bank holiday event at Bodiam castle when there was battle re-enactments (archery) and the very Kentish tradition of Hoodening as well as the very colourful Morris Dancing.
Click on the following links to learn more about hoodening
An Introduction to Morris Dancing
Here are a few photos I took of the event.
My friend and former work colleague Dave who makes the horses and also is the horse.
Come and have some fun, listen to some music and here is some party fare to get you in the Mood.
Fairport Convention - Meet on the Ledge
The Devil Went Down to Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band
Sarah Evans - Even Angels Fall
What's on the skewers? Mushrooms?
A question -
Last year the cemetary near me had it's usual Memorial Day services (it has a large military section). Ok. However, it also had a hayride and hotdogs. This is in the cemetary. Apparently it is something they do often, but not always.
I went up there and darned if folks weren't riding around the cemetary and eating hot dogs. I've never seen this before.
Has anyone ever heard of doing this in a cemetary before? It seemed weird, but on the other hand, the cemetary is a nice green place in the city, it was a nice day for a hotdog outdoors, so maybe it's not so bad. They did have the regular service, so I guess it wasn't completely disrespectful. Thoughts?
