Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company

If you would like to learn more about the history of the Oldest Chartered Military Organization in the Western Hemisphere then please follow the below page.

Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company Archives This is the official page of the archives for the Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. Our goal is to preserve and share the history of our organization.

Congratulations and best wishes to Captain John S Damiano, the 318th Captain Commanding of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts.

Today June 1st 2026 CPT Damiano was commissioned as Captain Commanding on Boston common during the Company's annual June day change of command ceremonies.
June day is a Massachusetts tradition dating back all the way to 1638.
(Photo by Lauren Poussard)

The 317th Captain Commanding, Stephen Colella, and members of the Society of Past Commanders the evening before the June Day change of command ceremonies 2026.

June Day is THIS MONDAY, June 1, 2026!

On June Day is the 1st Monday in June each year. The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, the oldest charted military company in the Western Hemisphere, parades from historic Faneuil Hall starting at 12:30 to the Carty parade ground in Boston Common where it will be accompanied by many other military units as it conducts its change of command ceremonies followed by a church service in honor of the fallen, and finally a banquet to mark the occasion. This tradition dates back to 1638.

This year Captain Commanding Stephen Colella will turn over command to incoming Captain John Damiano who was elected by the Company as his successor. Captain Damiano will be commissioned as the Company's 318th Captain Commanding.

Military units will conduct a pass and review infront of the Governor, visiting dignitaries, and there will be a traditional salute from howitzers by the 101st Field Artillery.

Come and be a part of history this Monday on Boston Common!

The Company and participating units should leave Faneuil Hall at 12:30 to parade to the Common and arrive at approximately 13:00 on Boston Common in the area between the Public Gardens and the howitzers arranged around Flagstaff Hill just down the hill from the State House where the units will muster for the Change of Command ceremonies.
The public are invited to witness the ceremonies but are advised that the howitzers will be offering a salute during the ceremony.

June Day - the 1st Monday in June - is just a few days away!

What is June Day?

Since 1638, the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts holds its change of command ceremonies on Boston.Common. Marching from its HQ atop of historic Faneuil Hall, the AHAC is joined by the Massachusetts National Guard the Honorable Artillery Company of London, the USS Constitution ColorGuard, and multiple other military units conduct a pass and review of troops accompanied by a 19 gun howitzer salute and a commissioning of the Company's senior ranks.

The event is open to the public so come and be a part of American history!

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On Memorial Day in particular take a moment to honor our flag and all who have fallen in defense of the ideals that it represents on our behalf.

On Memorial Day, the American flag is flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon to honor fallen service members, then raised to full-staff until sunset to symbolize the resolve of the living to continue the pursuit of liberty.

Members of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts led by its 317th Captain Commanding, Stephen Colella, at the annual Patriots' Day parade in Boston along with City of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu laid wreaths at several Patriots' Graves including William Dawes who was sent by Dr. Joseph Warren to alert John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the approaching British Army on April 18, 1775.

Unlike Paul Revere (made more famous by "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" by Longfellow), William Dawes completed his mission after escaping capture by British forces.

We share this oversight in popular history as it is right to give credit where credit is due
..plus William Dawes was elected to membership in the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts in 1768 and was appointed 2nd Sergeant in 1770 and later Company Clerk. Dawes also helped secure the Company's 4 cannon before the British could serve them - and helped to steal 2 others from the British Army!