A full 21-gun salute at a funeral is reserved for a very short list: the sitting President of the United States, a former president, a president-elect, and a sovereign or head of state of a foreign nation. No one else qualifies for a 21-gun salute funeral, no matter their military rank or civilian office. If you are asking because a veteran in your family served honorably, what you are likely thinking of is the three-volley rifle salute, which is a different ceremony and is available to a much wider group.
The Full 21-Gun Cannon Salute
Army Regulation 600-25 governs which officials receive cannon salutes and how many guns each is entitled to. Only three categories of people receive the full 21 guns:
- The sitting President of the United States
- A former President or President-elect
- A sovereign, chief of state of a foreign nation, or member of a reigning royal family
On the day of a president’s or former president’s funeral, the 21-gun salute is fired at noon at military installations across the country. The same salute marks certain national holidays, including the Fourth of July and Presidents’ Day. The Vice President and other senior government officials receive 19 guns, not 21.1Marine Corps University. 21-Gun Salute
Cannon Salutes for General Officers
Military general officers do not receive 21 guns, but they may receive a scaled cannon salute at their funeral. At Arlington National Cemetery, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps general officers are eligible for a battery cannon salute keyed to rank:2Arlington National Cemetery. Military Honors
- Four-star general: 17 guns
- Three-star general: 15 guns
- Two-star general: 13 guns
- One-star general: 11 guns
Even at Arlington, the cannon battery is subject to availability, so a qualifying rank does not guarantee the salute will actually be fired.
The Three-Volley Rifle Salute Most Families Are Asking About
When a family remembers a “21-gun salute” at a grandfather’s or father’s funeral, they are almost always describing the three-volley rifle salute. It uses rifles, not cannons, and is part of standard military funeral honors rather than a national ceremonial honor.
The firing party is made up of five to eight riflemen, each loaded with three blank rounds. The team fires three volleys in unison, then holds a salute while “Taps” plays. It is a tradition offered to eligible veterans generally, not a marker of special rank.
Who Qualifies for Military Funeral Honors
Federal law requires the Secretary of Defense to provide a funeral honors detail for any eligible veteran when the family requests one. Eligibility covers a broad group:3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 10 USC 1491 – Funeral Honors Functions at Funerals for Veterans
- Veterans who served on active duty and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable
- Current or former members of the Selected Reserve
- Service members who die while on active duty
The minimum ceremony required by law is a two-person uniformed detail that folds and presents the flag and plays “Taps.” If a live bugler is not available, the detail uses a recorded version. There is no charge to the family. Whether a firing party is present for the three-volley salute depends on personnel availability at the nearest military installation.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 10 USC 1491 – Funeral Honors Functions at Funerals for Veterans
Standard vs. Full Honors at Arlington
Arlington National Cemetery recognizes two tiers of honors. Standard military funeral honors, provided for enlisted service members below E-9, warrant officers WO-1 through CW-3, and junior officers O-1 through O-3, include a casket team, a firing party for the three-volley salute, a bugler, and the folding and presentation of the flag.2Arlington National Cemetery. Military Honors
Full military funeral honors with escort add a marching element, a military band, and potentially a horse-drawn caisson. They are provided for senior enlisted (E-9), senior warrant officers (CW-4 and CW-5), and field-grade officers (O-4 and above). Service members of any rank who received the Medal of Honor, were held as prisoners of war, or were killed in action also receive full honors.2Arlington National Cemetery. Military Honors
Who Is Disqualified
Some individuals are barred from military funeral honors even after honorable service. The Secretary of a military department may deny honors when providing them would bring discredit on the person’s service.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 10 USC 985 – Persons Convicted of Capital Crimes; Certain Other Persons: Denial of Specified Burial-Related Benefits
Federal law specifically bars anyone whose conviction for a federal or state capital crime is final, unless the sentence was commuted by the President or a state governor. The same prohibition reaches individuals who committed such a crime but were never convicted because they died or fled before trial. Tier III sex offenders sentenced to life imprisonment or 99 years or more are barred from both military funeral honors and burial in national cemeteries.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 38 USC 2411 – Prohibition Against Interment or Memorialization in the National Cemetery Administration or Arlington National Cemetery of Persons Committing Federal or State Capital Crimes
Proving Eligibility and Requesting Honors
The key document is the DD Form 214, the discharge certificate issued when a service member leaves active duty. It shows the character of service, which decides whether the veteran qualifies.6National Archives. DD Form 214 Discharge Papers and Separation Documents If the DD-214 cannot be found, any discharge document showing honorable service works, and families can request records from the National Personnel Records Center using Standard Form 180. For an upcoming funeral, mark the request as an emergency.7National Archives. Request Military Personnel Records Using Standard Form 180
The funeral director usually handles the coordination, contacting the appropriate military branch to arrange honors. VA national cemetery staff can also help arrange honors for burials at their facilities.8National Cemetery Administration. Military Funeral Honors Contact the service branch at least 48 to 72 hours before the service, and provide the DD-214 or other discharge paperwork so eligibility can be verified in advance.