Coast Guard Island to hold Presidents Day 21-gun salute

Coast Guard requests media's help in spreading public awareness of salute

ALAMEDA, Calif. – Coast Guard members on Coast Guard Island will fire the national salute of 21 guns, noon tomorrow, in honor of Presidents Day and would like to warn the surrounding communities of the loud noise produced by the blank rounds that will be fired.

The national salute of 21 guns is a time honored naval tradition dating back centuries when it was customary for a ship entering a friendly port to discharge its cannon to demonstrate that they were unloaded.

Currently, the salute is fired in honor of Presidents Day, a national flag, the sovereign or chief of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family, and the President, ex-President, and President-elect of the United States. It is also fired at noon of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect, on Washington's Birthday, and the Fourth of July.

The Coast Guard is requesting the media’s help to spread public awareness of the national salute scheduled to take place on the northwest side of Coast Guard Island. The salute will take approximately a minute and 45 seconds to complete.

For more information on the origins of the 21-gun salute, please click here

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