The Massachusetts National Guard was founded as the Massachusetts Bay Colonial Militia on December 13th, 1636.
The first units of the Massachusetts Militia were organized in Plymouth in 1621, Salem in 1629, and in Boston in 1630. Town militia companies were organized into three permanent militia regiments on December 13th, 1636. This date marks the birth of the Massachusetts National Guard and is observed as the birth date of the National Guard of the United States.
