In a move that would create the first militia on the North American continent, the Massachusetts General Court in Salem issued an order on Dec. 13, 1636, requiring all able-bodied men between 16 ...

The National Guard was established as early as December 13, 1636, when the Massachusetts Bay Colony's General Court organized its militia into three permanent regiments. This was done to improve ...

It marks the day the first militia in North America was organized in Massachusetts in 1636. As is tradition, the longest ...