salute to the President

According to military tradition, as a head of state, a President or ex-President is entitled to a 21-gun salute. The same salute is given to Presidents of other republics or to monarchs of foreign nations. Heads of foreign governments, such as prime ministers, are entitled to 18-gun salutes. To commemorate the independence of the United States, the 21-gun salute is often fired in the following sequence: 1–7–7–6.