Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is a holiday in the United States honoring African American heritage by commemorating the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. State of Texas in 1865. Celebrated on June 19, the term is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth, and is recognized as a state holiday in 36 states of the United States.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JuneteenthJuneteenth celebrated in Springfield
June 19, 2010
On June 19, 1865, slaves in Texas received the word they were free — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
Betty Grimes, chairperson of the Gammon House Restoration Committee, thought it fitting that the local Juneteenth celebration — which is nationally celebrated as the ending of slavery — was held at the Gammon House Saturday, June 19.
“We thought it was significant to let people know what Juneteenth was about, what that history was about,” Grimes explained. “And there’s a lot of people in this region who are not familiar with it.”
Volunteers mark Juneteenth with cleanup at historic black cemetery
04:31 PM CDT on Saturday, June 19, 2010
Standing in a patch of shade at Carrollton's historic black cemetery, Gwen Turner couldn't help but wonder what her great-grandfather, Ned Welch, would have thought of the crowd gathered there this morning.
Carrollton Black Cemetery His tombstone, erected after his death in 1884, is one of the last original markers in the small graveyard.
"I can just imagine he would be elated people thought enough of this little cemetery to come out and maintain it," she said.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/carrollton/stories/062010dnmetjuneteenth.bc373e5f.html
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
