Waking up to a 96-gun salute

[Spitpatch]

The United Kingdom provided a wonderful way to wake up this morning, as the 96-gun salute to Queen Elizabeth II was broadcast live. Multiple batteries of cannon at various locations of the Kingdom sounded off, each manned with period-correct uniforms according to the model/vintage of guns in the battery.

Impressive, and despite the U.K.'s political attitude toward personal firearm ownership, the display was poignant, refreshing and reassuring.

I couldn't help but wonder as the blank shells were loaded and fired in stiff prescribed drill, that somewhere in the British military there might be a disappointed soldier or sailor of impeccable qualifications ruminating on why he was passed over in selection for this duty of such great honor while silently cursing his parents for naming him Alec Baldwin.

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[Certaindeaf]

When Betty White died all she got was a 96 slide whistle salute so respect.