Presidential Salute Battery – "THE GUNS" of "THE OLD GUARD"
In 2006 I was honored to photograph the final honors of LTG William P. Yarborough, USA Ret., the Father of the Modern Green Berets at Arlington National Cemetery. After capturing several hundred photos of one of this outstanding tribute to whom another General had called A Titan, it became apparent to me that I was missing a key part of the final honors — the “gun salute”
I made a call into one of my 3d Infantry contacts and was able to arrange to view and photograph “The Presidential Salute Battery” over several missions to get the fitting photos that would be included in LTG Yarborough’s Memorial Book.
Whether it’s firing the “gun salutes” for their Army, Navy, or Marine brothers who have reached “flag officer” rank in an Arlington National Cemetery final honors or honoring the President or other heads of state, visiting foreign dignataries, these men of the “Guns Platoon” are always “top notch” (An important note – these are the “gun salutes” that people often confuse with “fire three volleys” — the firing parties at most military final honors. It’s only the President of the United States or “head-of-state {Queen Elizabeth from Britain for instance} who get a “21 GUN SALUTE”)
I’ll post more details about this wonderful unit and my work with them soon
Thank you to SFC Flinta and the platoon members for all the assistance, the coaching and the knowledge that you all shared with me. It has been wonderful!!!
Tags: 21 Gun Salute, Arlington National Cemetery, military, military honors, photographs, Presidential Salute Battery, Special Forces, The Old Guard, US Army, US Army Special Forces, Washington DC
