How to Conduct a Ceremonial Volley at Military Funerals
By law, all honorably discharged U.S. military veterans are entitled to funeral honors. Upon request, the funeral director will contact the Funeral Honors Detail to arrange the ceremony, which includes the folding and presentation of the American flag to family members and "Taps." The family may also request the ceremonial firing of three volleys, a custom that dates back to when two warring sides would fire three volleys after the dead were removed from the battlefield. This time-honored tradition has strict protocols in place by the U.S. Department of Defense. The orders quoted in the steps of this articles are according to U.S. Air Force protocol.
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Instructions
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Load rifle clips or magazines with three rounds of blank ammunition.
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Pre-position the rifle bearers 45 to 75 yards from the grave site, with rifles at eye-level and muzzles pointing over the casket, to "clear a path to heaven," according to tradition. The firing party may include three to seven rifle bearers, commanded by a non-commissioned officer.
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"Load weapons." After the funeral service, each rifle bearer "executes port arms, faces to the half right and moves his right foot ten inches to the right" for a firm stance. He loads the clip or magazine into the rifle, chambers a round, locks the rifle and resumes port arms.
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"Ready weapons." Each rifle bearer "moves the safety to the fire position."
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"Aim weapons." Each rifle bearer shoulders his rifle with both hands, with the muzzle pointing forward at a 45-degree angle from the horizontal.
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"Fire weapons." Each rifle bearer quickly squeezes the trigger of his rifle before returning it to port arms.
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"Aim, fire weapons." Each rifle bearer repeats the previously described steps twice more in rapid succession before resuming port arms.
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"Cease firing weapons." Each rifle bearer locks his rifle, comes to attention and faces to half left. The firing party presents arms while "Taps" is played.
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"Order arms." The non-commissioned officer "executes a right (left) face and remains at attention" until the flag presentation ceremony ends. The command right (left) face is a "two-count movement for turning to one side or the other," according to the Army Study Guide. To execute a right face, the non-commissioned officer raises his right toe and left heel and turns 90 degrees to the right on the ball of his left foot and the heel of his right foot. On the second count, he brings his left foot forward, resuming the position of attention. The process is reversed for a left face. Once the rifle bearers leave the grave site, each man unloads and cleans his rifle as soon as possible.
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Tips & Warnings
Your local Department of Veterans Affairs can help you arrange a military funeral.
You may keep a spent round as a memorial of the funeral service.
