If your a United states veteran in any branch of service, and the deceased received a military funeral with all military honors, then the rank of the soldier, salior, or airman doesn't matter. Every deceased in a military funeral receives a 21 gun salute. The 21 gun salute is usually given at the end of the funeral just before Taps..

Wrong, Wolfen. The 7 rifles fire 3 volleys, just like Pogster said. Reference http://usmilitary.about.com/od/jointservices/a/funeralhonors.htm A 21-gun salute is always cannons. Rifles are not guns. The protocol of the 21-gun salutes is found at http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/faq/salute.htm

I'd also like to point out, that the 21 gun salute is not limited to funerals. Visiting heads of state are another employment of the salute using only cannon.

With the present increase of military funerals in the news, I have been noticing an increase in the misidentification of certain ceremonial customs as, “21-Gun Salutes”. This is understandable. Most people seeing and hearing guns fired at a ceremony would naturally assume this must be the famous “21-Gun Salute”, as although many people have heard the term, some only have a vague notion of what it is. This is common even among some military veterans. Also, since the term, “21-Gun Salute”, is alliteration it has a tendency to stick in peoples minds. But the official, “21-Gun Salute”, custom does have a specific definition and criteria. The custom of firing gun salutes originated in the British Royal Navy. When a cannon was fired, it partially disarmed the ship, so a warship needlessly firing and emptying its cannons displayed respect and trust to the observer. The British eventually established their, “International Salute”, as 21 guns fired. In 1842 the United States declared the 21-gun salute as its, "Presidential Salute". In 1890 the 21-gun salute was also formally established as the, "National Salute". Today, the National Salute of 21 guns (cannons firing blank charges 21 times) is fired only in honor of a national flag, the sovereign or chief of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family, and the President, ex-President, and President-elect of the United States. It is also fired at noon of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect, on Washington's Birthday, Presidents Day, and the Fourth of July. Lesser gun salutes are also rendered to other military and civilian leaders of this and other nations. The number of guns is based on their protocol rank. These salutes are always in odd numbers. On the other hand, anyone who is entitled to a military funeral (generally anyone who dies on active duty, honorably discharged veterans, and military retirees) are entitled to 3,” Rifle Volleys”, (rifles firing blanks into the air 3 times). This is not a 21-gun salute, nor any other type of "gun salute". They are properly referred to as, “Rifle Volleys”. The “Rifle Volleys” at a funeral are subject to the availability of honor guard teams and the firing team can consist of any number, but one usually sees a team of 8, with a noncommissioned officer in charge. Although “Rifle Volleys” are a military custom, some non-military organizations (Police, Fire Departments) have adopted it. When non-military firing teams are used variations in detail and precision can occur. The 3 volleys come from an old battlefield custom. The two warring sides would cease hostilities to clear their dead from the battlefield, and the firing of 3 volleys meant that the dead had been properly cared for and the side was ready to resume the battle.