Those Booms Were Cannon Fire And Muskets In Boston

BOSTON — If you heard a couple loud booms Monday afternoon, don't worry. That's a planned cannon fire at the June Day parade near the Boston Common.

Each year, the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company holds a march around downtown. It's part of the group's election of new officers on the first Monday in June.

The organization says the June Day parade is the largest military parade on the East Coast with more than 30 participating organizations, from the Lexington Minutemen to the Mass Military Academy.

The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts is the oldest chartered military organization in the western hemisphere, according to its website. Its charter was granted in March 1638 by the Great and General Court of Massachusetts Bay and signed by Governor John Winthrop.

The Company was given a charter by the Great and General Court as a volunteer militia company that would train on a regular basis to increase the readiness and military skills of the members. Its inherent mission was to prepare its members to serve as officers in the enrolled militia companies, the website says.

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).