The 21-gun salute is one of the highest military honors, performed for dignitaries, heads of state and fallen service members. But what exactly is it? And why 21 shots? In military tradition, "guns" ...

Why 21 guns? The answer lies in centuries of naval tradition. From ships firing to show peaceful intent to a carefully calculated system of salutes, this is how the 21 Gun Salute became the ultimate ...

The 21-gun salute looks like a show of respect - but its history tells a different story. It began as a ritual of surrender, when ships fired their cannons empty to prove they were unarmed. Over time, ...