One day in 1801, the U.S.S. Congress and the U.S.S. New York, warships commissioned by Washington when he was President, were passing in front of Mt. Vernon on their way to the navy yard in the Federal City. When Captain Sever aboard the Congress observed Martha Washington on the front lawn, he ordered a gun salute in homage to the memory of the father of our country. This became a Navy custom spawned by the speedy retribution of the non-saluting U.S.S. New York which ran quickly aground.
Custom turned into official regulation when Teddy Roosevelt was President. After being disturbed in his quarters aboard a Navy ship by the gun salute, he was so impressed with the story behind it he promptly issued this order dated June 2, 1906:
When a ship of the Navy is passing Washington’s tomb, Mt. Vernon, Virginia, between sunrise and sunset, the following ceremonies shall be observed insofar as may be practicable: The full guard and band shall be paraded, the bell tolled, and the national ensign half-malted at the beginning of the tolling of the bell; when opposite Washington’s tomb, the guard shall present arms, persons on deck shall salute facing in the direction of the tomb, and taps shall be sounded; the national ensign shall be two-blocked, and the tolling shall cease at the last note of taps, after which the National Anthem shall be played. Upon completion o f the National Anthem, “carry on” shall be sounded. (Chapter 21, Article 2185, United States Navy Regulations.)