Who are the National Lancers?

The The National Lancers have a long and distinguished history as a volunteer militia troop in Massachusetts. The unit was organized in 1836 to provide a mounted escort for the governor, as well as to enforce the law and defend the state from invasion and insurrection.

In 1920 the National Lancers became a ceremonial unit. Today, the Lancers are a unit of the Massachusetts Organized Militia and as such, have provided security and staff assistance to the Massachusetts National Guard. No matter the mission, we remain true to our motto—“Union, Liberty and the Laws”—and to our values of service, tradition and duty.

Our mission is to provide mounted color guards, escorts and troops for ceremonies, parades and other military and patriotic events throughout the Commonwealth. Perhaps the most well-known event occurs annually on Patriot’s Day, when the National Lancers reenact the rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes, who rode on the night of 18-19 April 1775 and notified the militia of the British march.

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