In 1755 the Province of Massachusetts Bay raised two battalions of foot for service against the French and Indians, and during the Seven Years War there were generally six regiments on the establishment, with a total strength fluctuating between 5,000-7000 men, some volunteers and some drafted militia. These troops were clothed and equipped by the colony but served under the command of the British Army in North America. Most Massachusetts troops were issued with blue coats, lined and faced with red, red waistcoats, blue breeches and brown gaiters. Headdress was a black tricorn trimmed with white lace and a black cockade, and equipment (waistbelt, crossbelts and cartridge box) were natural leather. The rank and file were armed with a musket, bayonet and short sword. Company officers wore a similar uniform, usually of superior quality, trimmed with gold lace; senior officer wore a red coat.

Colors carried by Massachusetts Provincials consisted of a Colonel's Colour, red with a canton of the Union Flag, and a Regimental Colour, usually white with a green pine tree, the New England emblem.

The 511th Military Police Company traces its lineage to the 1125th Military Police Company, which was constituted 12 November 1942 in the Army of the United States and activated on 1 January 1943 at Brookley Field, Alabama. After World War II service in the Pacific theater, the company was inactivated on 25 March 1946 in Japan. On 1 November 1970, the 1125th was redesignated as the 511th Military Police Company, allotted to the Regular Army and activated at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The 511th is currently stationed at Fort Drum, New York, as a unit of the 91st Military Police Battalion, 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade.

The 511th Military Police Company's campaign credits include Leyte (Philippines—World War II), Panama (1989), Iraq (2006 and 2008-09) and Afghanistan (2010-11). The 511th received the Republic of the Philippines Presidential Unit Citation for its service on Leyte and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for its service in Iraq in 2006.

The 511th's guidon is of the standard pattern for separate TO&E companies, with the Military Police branch insignia over the unit's numerical designation in the Military Police branch colors. Also depicted are the Regimental Insignia of the Military Police Corps, the Combat Action Badge and the campaign streamer awarded for the 511th's 2010-11 Afghanistan deployment.

The soldiers of the 511th Military Police Company (including the daughter of the author of this site) deployed to Afghanistan on 11 September 2010 and returned to their home station on September 5, 2011. Their guidon will remain on display here in honor of the 511th's exceptional service during its Afghanistan deployment.

See also US Army Guidons of the Combat Arms.

In 2019 I marked the fiftieth anniversary of my entry into military service. On 4 June 1969 at what was then the Boston Army Base, I took the oath of enlistment for the first but not as it proved the last time. In all I served for 28 years: nine on active duty and nineteen as a drilling reservist. In 1997-98, HHD 380th Quartermaster Battalion was my final unit of assignment. My position was Battalion Supply Sergeant and in that capacity it fell to me to order the battalion's Organizational Color and HHD Guidon, an exercise that stimulated my interest in military flags and led to the creation of this website. The guidon is flanked on the left by the Regimental Insignia of the Quartermaster Corps and on the right by the Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 380th Quartermaster Battalion. The Army Institute of Heraldry designs the unit coat of arms and DUC to reflect the motto chosen by the members of the unit. The 380th's motto—SUSTAIN THE WARRIOR—was suggested by me and ultimately adopted. The colors gold (buff) and light blue are the branch colors of the Quartermaster Corps. The color black and the three drops symbolize the 380th's mission, which is fuel supply.

See also Flags, Colors & Guidons of the US Army