Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts
| Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts | |
|---|---|
| Active | March 13, 1638—present |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | Massachusetts |
| Type | Volunteer militia company |
| Role | Honor guard State militia |
| Garrison/HQ | Faneuil Hall Boston, Massachusetts |
| Nickname(s) | "Grand Old Company" |
| Motto(s) | Facta Non Verba ("Deeds Not Words") |
| Website | http://www.ahac.us.com |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Governor of Massachusetts |
| Captain Commanding | Maj. Michael Fish |
| Insignia | |
| Coat of Arms | |
| Abbreviation | AHAC |
The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts is the oldest chartered military organization in North America and the third oldest chartered military organization in the world. A volunteer militia of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, it is not part of the U.S. Armed Forces, but includes veterans and serving military members within its ranks.
Its charter was granted in March 1638 by the Great and General Court of Massachusetts Bay and signed by Governor John Winthrop as a volunteer militia company to train officers enrolled in the local militia companies across Massachusetts. With the professionalization of the U.S. armed forces preceding World War I including the creation of the National Guard of the United States and the federalization of officer training, the company's mission changed to a supportive role in preserving the historic and patriotic traditions of Boston, Massachusetts, and the nation. Today the Company serves as Honor Guard to the Governor of Massachusetts who is also its Commander-in-Chief, and its status as a military unit is preserved under Massachusetts state law.
The headquarters is located on the 4th floor of Faneuil Hall and consists of an armory, library, offices, quartermaster department, commissary, and military museum with free admission.