Posted on 12/19/2008 4:23:43 AM PST by savedbygrace
I agree. I grew up an Army brat also, and married an Army helicopter pilot. We were stationed on Air Force bases as well as Army posts. Having grown up with jets flying a few feet (it seemed) over the house never bothered me. And, few things are louder than a dozen helicopters (or more) flying over at the same time. Yes, it is the sound of freedom and strength - the lullaby of a military brat's youth. Greatest sound ever.
There's the clue right there that this isn't real. A Lt. Col. doesn't mistakenly call a 3 shot volley a 21 gun salute. That's the job of newspaper reporters.
This is kinda late since the last entry posted is about three hours ago, but I couldn't let your response to this thread pass with your sour note.
My dad, a retired USAF Col, died this past May. One of the things I noticed as I watched the ceremony performed for him was that there WERE three carrying weapons to be fired. However, there were seven volleys fired when the time for the salute arrived. I asked about it and apparently the officer in charge asked my step mother if she wanted the full salute or just a simple salute. Seems some folk are uncomfortable with the full seven volleys.
I also got the impression that his asking was not widely practiced.
My note is sour only towards newpaper reporters who ALWAYS get it wrong. A 21 gun salute is performed for heads of state. A volley is performed for regular military. The volley normally consists of an odd number of soldiers, from 3 to 7, firing their rifles into the air, most often 3 times. I would bet that better than 9 times out of 10 when you read in the newspaper that someone received a 21 gun salute, it was not a 21 gun salute. To a newspaperman, 7 soldiers firing 3 times adds up to a 21 gun salute.
My dad, a retired USAF Col, died this past May.
My sincere condolences, and thanks to you and your family for your service!
One of the things I noticed as I watched the ceremony performed for him was that there WERE three carrying weapons to be fired. However, there were seven volleys fired when the time for the salute arrived. I asked about it and apparently the officer in charge asked my step mother if she wanted the full salute or just a simple salute. Seems some folk are uncomfortable with the full seven volleys.
Interesting. I'm not familliar with the military definition of simple salute or full salute, whether or not they mean 3 or 7 shot volley or not. I only know that of all of the military color guards I have seen presiding over funerals, they have consisted of 3, 5 or 7 soldiers firing a "3 Shot Volley". The only 21 gun salute I have ever seen was at Ronald Reagan's funeral.
Apparently, snopes says that the Lt. Col. in question actually did write that it was a 21 gun salute, but I can assure you that it was not a 21 gun salute for a regular military man. I won't take snopes' word for it that a Lt. Col. would not know the difference.
Those kind of people drive me up a wall. When we were at Norton AFB, there were some of those types. The city finally paid to move these extremely small houses away from the flightline because of complaints. Then they closed the base years later.
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