Today, we gather to celebrate Juneteenth, a day that holds profound significance in the history of our nation. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, marks the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free—two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed.
This day is a powerful reminder of the resilience, strength, and enduring spirit of the African American community.