What is the reason for a 9 gun salute at a funeral?

Answer 1

The amount of firing will vary. If performed near ongoing battlefields, and not enough men are available, there might be less than the number of men required in the firing party. If no blanks are available, service rounds (live rounds) will be required. If there's an ammo shortage, less rounds will be expended. If there's a safety concern over live firing, again, a shortened ceremony. Gun salutes originated out of necessity; Burning gunpowder is expensive, especially when large amounts are loaded into cannons. Up until the US Civil War (1861-1865), (the US Civil War was transitional) Infantry Rifles and Guns (Cannons) were mostly muzzle loaders. When warships entered ports (practically any port, home or foreign) for safety reasons they had to UNLOAD their guns (cannons). Muzzle loaders can only be unloaded by firing them. After the warship fired it's guns, the Port's Military Garrison (Fort) would acknowlege the warship by firing it's cannon. A salute is an acknowledgement. Gunfire is a military honor. The dead were honored the same way. When a soldier is executed he is shot by a firing squad. A man with less honor will normally be hanged. Although a squad is normally 12 men, a patrol is normally 6 to 7 men (or six men and a leader). For safety within controlled areas containing ceremony, a patrol of men (6 or 7) is easier and safer to command and control with firearms. The traditional three cheers for a departing "brother in Arms" is fired by three volleys.

Answer 2

Land batteries, having a greater supply of gunpowder, were able to fire three guns for every shot fired afloat, hence the salute by shore batteries was 21 guns. The multiple of three probably was chosen because of the mystical significance of the number three in many ancient civilizations. Early gunpowder, composed mainly of sodium nitrate, spoiled easily at sea, but could be kept cooler and drier in land magazines. When potassium nitrate improved the quality of gunpowder, ships at sea adopted the salute of 21 guns.

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.

Answer 3

The firing of the guns at a funeral is a great honor. The number of guns to fire was designated for various ceremonies, honors and officials according to their importance and/or position. An odd number of guns is used as an even number was considered unlucky. At a funeral, guns (artillery) are not used. The honor guard uses rifles and it is called the firing of three volleys in honor of the fallen. Any service member who died on active duty, are honorably discharged veterans or are military retirees, can receive a military funeral, which includes the three volleys, the playing of taps and a US flag presented to the next of kin.