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First Round of Salute Fired at John F. Kennedy's Inauguration
First Round of Salute Fired at John F. Kennedy's Inauguration

First Round of Salute Fired at John F. Kennedy's Inauguration

Artifact IDMO 66.113a
Object Type Shell, Artillery
Date 1961
Maker
Medium brass, lucite, bronze, wood
DimensionsOverall H 11 in x W 7 in x D 7 in (27.9 cm x 17.8 cm x 17.8 cm)
Physical Description75mm blank shell of the first round fired from the Old Guard antitank gun during John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Ceremony on January 20, 1961. The shell is engraved: on front "The First Round of the Salute Fired for John Fitzgerald Kennedy President of the United States Inauguration Day 20 January 1961", and on back "Shell Fired By Gun Platoon 3D Infantry U. S. Army 'The Old Guard'." The shell sits on top of a lucite block with an embedded Presidential Seal medallion embossed "President of the United States of America Inaugurated January 20th 1961." Below the medal is text in gold lettering: "'ask not what your country can do for you.. ask what you can do for your country.' John F. Kennedy --1961." The lucite block sits on a wooden base.
Historical NoteThe 3rd United States Infantry Regiment is a unit of the United States Army which serves as Escort to the President or Presidential Guard. It is the oldest active infantry regiment in the army, organized as the First American Regiment in 1784. Among the ceremonial tasks and honors the regiment carries out, the following duties are also included : the guarding of the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery; The Continental Color Guard; The Presidential Salute Battery, which serves at all Full Honors General officer (and State) funerals, as well as at arrivals and departures of foreign dignitaries; the Caisson Platoon, which provides horses and riders to pull caisson in military and state funerals, as well as riderless horses in Full Honors funerals. The platoon is equipped with eight 3-inch anti-tank guns of World War II vintage, mounted on 105mm Howitzer chassis. Each gun weighs 5,775 pounds and fires 75mm blank shells with 1.5 pounds of powder.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteItem is associated with the Inauguration of President John F. Kennedy. Ownership was transferred to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum by the Estate of President John F. Kennedy in 1965.
Credit LineJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum Boston, MA
National Archives Catalog CollectionJohn F. Kennedy Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 1676934)
National Archives Catalog SeriesKennedy Administration Collection 1960-1963 (National Archives Identifier 1676959)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedUse Restriction NoteReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view