JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash.— With a thunderous boom and a puff of smoke, the tradition of firing the cannon remains one of the U.S. Army’s most time-honored traditions.
The practice dates back centuries to when artillery played a central role in warfare and military signaling, allowing Soldiers to communicate over the din of fighting. Over time, firing the canon evolved into a formal gesture of honor, used to commemorate important events and individuals.
Today, the number of rounds fired is carefully determined by military protocol. For instance, a 21-gun salute is reserved for the president, visiting heads of state and certain national occasions. (This is not to be confused with the three volley salute which is performed with rifles at military funerals.) Lower-ranking officials receive correspondingly fewer rounds. In Fort Myer, Virginia, the Old Guard’s Presidential Salute Battery conducts ceremonial cannon fire.
While modern warfare continues to evolve and transform, the ritual continues to serve as a living reminder of the Army’s enduring values: discipline, honor and tradition.
Army installations across the country fire ceremonial cannon rounds twice daily, at morning reveille and evening retreat. These blasts signal the raising and lowering of the American flag, reinforcing the rhythm of military life and the importance of time-honored customs.
| Date Taken: | 09.26.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.26.2025 18:02 |
| Story ID: | 549465 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 15 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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