Illustrative photo – President-elect Petr Pavel spoke at a press conference on current issues and the program for the following week, February 27, 2023, Prague.
Prague – The inauguration of President Petr Pavel on Thursday will traditionally be accompanied by shots from special volley cannons. In the morning, the soldiers will place four cannons on Prague's Petřín Hill, from where shots will be fired after Pavel takes his vows and the national anthem begins to play in the Vladislav Hall in Prague Castle. Soldiers of the Prague Garrison Command will also stand with historical and battle banners at the statue of the first Czechoslovak president Tomáš Garrigu Masaryk on Hradčanské náměstí, where Pavel will bow, said Vlastimila Cyprisová from the press department of the General Staff to ČTK.
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Photo gallery: President-elect Petr Pavel
Specially modified anti-tank guns model 52 caliber 85 millimeters have been in the arsenal of the Prague Garrison Headquarters since the 1990s. Honor salvos are fired by four cannons, with 11 specially modified firing chambers in each barrel. Soldiers put 11 explosives into two cannons, ten explosives into the other two cannons. The detonators are connected to the launcher, which gradually activates two cannons at the same time, so that the shots are doubled and, in case of failure, at least one shot is fired. A total of 21 volleys will be fired.
The time span of the shots is determined by the automatic launcher, into which the length of the anthem and the number of volleys required are programmed. The soldiers receive the signal to start firing from their colleagues in the Vladislav Hall by radio signal and by telephone at the moment when the conductor gives the signal to the musicians. They still have an online transmission in reserve. An anthem can last from 58 to 65 seconds. It depends on the conductor and the environment in which the musicians play the anthem. But the bandleader always tells the soldiers in advance how long the anthem will last.
The number of 21 salvos is based on historical customs, the origin of which is not entirely clear. It probably arose from a naval tradition where ships entering port would fire saluting cannon shots as a sign of peace. Every shot from the ship's cannon was answered by three shots from the port guns. A total of 21 shots were fired. Since the 18th century, the British Navy has fired 21 honor salvos at important events for the number of the royal family, and land units have gradually taken over the habit. In the Czech Republic, in addition to the inauguration of the president, volleys are also fired during a military oath, during a state funeral or during an important foreign visit.
In addition to firing cannons, the soldiers of the Prague Garrison Command will also participate in a ceremonial ceremony right at Prague Castle. After taking the oath and the end of the joint meeting of deputies and senators, Pavel will go out to the balcony in the third castle courtyard, where he will greet the public. He will then proceed to Matyáš's Gate, where the Chief of the General Staff, Karel Řehka, will report to him as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Together they then go to the nearby statue of Masaryk, where Pavel places a flower. Soldiers from the garrison headquarters will stand around the road, holding historical battle banners.
