Gun salute Thursday morning to mark French PM's Ottawa visit

The department of national defence is advising the public of a 19-gun salute that will take place on Parliament Hill Thursday morning.

The salute is part of a welcomeceremony for French Prime MinisterManuel Valls.

According to a DND news release, four C3 Howitzers will be positioned behind the East Block on Parliament Hill.

"The 19-gun salute is the firing of 19 rounds of blank ammunition in 10-second intervals," according to the release. The ceremony "is purely ceremonial in nature and that at no time will safety or security be in jeopardy."

The 19-gun salute istraditionally reserved for the prime ministerand foreign heads of government, while the 21-gun salute is given to mark visits byreigning royalty, and for occasions such as Victoria Day, Remembrance Day and Canada Day.