<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> "Three Volley Salute" A US Army rifle party firing three volleys </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Problems playing this file? See media help . </Td> </Tr> <P> The three - volley salute is a ceremonial act performed at military funerals and sometimes also police funerals . The custom originates from the European dynastic wars, where the fighting ceased so the dead and wounded could be removed . Then, three shots were fired into the air to signal that the battle could resume . </P> <P> It should not be confused with the 21 - gun salute (or 19 - gun or 17 - gun, etc .) which is fired by a battery of artillery pieces . </P>

How many shots do they fire at a military funeral