21 gun salute

[Kenneth]

Would it be appropriate and acceptable to perform two 21 gun salutes at a memorial ceremony. Two military organizations will be present, and I would like both of them to participate in the ceremony.

[Pinotage]

I thought a 21 gun salute was reserved for heads of state and royalty, if both fire ttheir gun it'd be a 42 gun salute. Why not let each fire a gun in turn on the 21 salute with a tass of a coin deciding who gets the odd one. Answerbanks profanity editor won't all the phrase 't*ss of a coin' , can you believe it?

[JohnPPotts]

From the phrasing of the question I'm guessing that the person being remembered was himself (or herself) member of a military organisation - as such the number of shots fired will vary according to their rank (but unless you're burying royalty, it will be less than 21). The military SHOULD know the appropriate number. As to whether it would be appropriate for them both to fire a salute, I don't know (but I doubt it) - if "flipping" a coin is inappropriate, perhaps they could fire alternate shots.

[Tere K]

I've been to many military funeral's and i've never seen or heard anything but Taps and the 21 Gun Salute. Unless it was on my Reserve and we had the Bird Singer's.

[MajSloan]

More than the 21 guns would be in approiate. As increased number are designated by law for different political and royalty salutes. Thre vollys regardless of number of weapons is symbolic of a 21 gun salute. The proper way would be to from one squad of both groups. But more than 21 should never be fired.