Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts

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The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts is a military parade and ceremony group in Massachusetts. It is the third oldest chartered military organization in the world^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] Summary

Members of this organization are often seen in uniform at many Massachusetts ceremonies, events and parades. It is organized as a militia of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts dating from 1638.

The Ancient and honorable Artillery Company serves as Honor Guard to the Governor of Massachusetts. The Governor is the Commander in Chief of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.

History of the company (summary)

Chartered in 1638—The First Military Company Chartered in the Western Hemisphere

As the settlements which followed the landing at Plymouth increased and spread, there was no organized military force for protection - only local volunteer companies, which lacked the capacity for joint action or any centralized authority. Many of the settlers of Boston had been members in England of the Honourable Artillery Company of London (organized and chartered in 1537), and the military training they had received in that company led them to form a similar organization in the new country. In 1637 the company was formed for instruction in discipline and tactics. Governor Winthrop granted a charter in March 1638, and on the first Monday in June following, an election of officers was held on Boston Common. Since that time, the company has continued to hold their annual elections on the Boston Common on the first Monday in June by casting their votes on a drum head.

Since 1746, the headquarters of the Company has been located in Faneuil Hall.

In its armory, the company maintains a military museum and library. It contains relics from every war in which the United States has been engaged since its settlement. The armory is open to the public daily.

Ancient and Honourable Artillery Company members have served on every battlefield in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm.

The Company has had eight members who received the Medal of Honor, and has had four of its members serve as President of the United States: President James Monroe, Chester Alan Arthur, Calvin Coolidge and John F. Kennedy.

The group's motto is "Facta Non Verba" which is a Latin phrase meaning "Deeds Not Words".