FIRST MUSTER TAKES CENTER STAGE IN SALEM 400+ (SPRING 2026)



Midday on Saturday 11 April will see the start of a colorful and patriotic event in Salem as the city celebrates the 389th anniversary of what is known as the First Muster. The parades and displays on Salem Common mark the birth of the modern National Guard in December 1636, when the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony ordered the organization of the colony’s militia companies. The first formation of a military force took place in spring of the following year. A mix of modern military displays and Colonial-era reenactments makes this a spectacular and popular fixture in Salem’s calendar. But some city residents have reservations.  Read more on pages 20-21. Photo of Salem’s 373rd First Muster in 2010. www.nationalguard.mil

 


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