A story headlined “A special event for special citizens” (Herald, May 24), 2015, referred to a “21-Gun Salute” performed at the event. I invite the Herald staff to refrain from us in the aforementioned term when it is really a “three-volley salute.”

Wikipedia states, “the three-volley salute is not to be confused with the 21-gun salute, which uses a battery of artillery pieces ... the 3-volley salute is a ceremonial act ... it consists of a rifle party firing blank cartridges into the air three times ... the rifle party usually has an odd number of members, from 3 to 7.”

The 21-gun salute is for heads of state, so please do a little research when using such terms. This is not the first time for the confusion of the terms by the Herald. Of course, when the casual observer sees seven members of a rifle party firing three rounds each, totaling 21 rounds fired – it is still a three-volley salute and not a 21-gun salute.

As the commanding officer of the USS Milwaukee, I presided over several burials at sea at which a “three-volley salute” was fired as we said farewell to a fallen sailor.

Don Baker, Capt. USN(Ret)

Vallecito