Factoid ---Gunfire over the grave:
Three volleys are fired over the grave at burial, a custom carried over from the battlefield, when warriors periodically paused from fighting to tend to the dead. The volleys signaled that the burial party was ready to resume battle.
The custom of threes is believed to have been adapted from ancient Rome, when mourners cast dirt on the coffin three times, thrice called the name of the dead and thrice declared "vale," meaning farewell, as they left the tomb.
I understand that the 21-gun salute came from 1776:
1+7+7+6=21
Is this correct?