Celebrating freedom

  • Published
  • The African American Heritage Committee
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in Texas. From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19 as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States.

While many who have heard of the event associate it with a fellowship of people gathering around eating food and listening to music, the actual event was coined "Juneteenth" to remember June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger landed in Galveston to inform the enslaved they were free.

General Granger then read General Order No. 3:

"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United Sates, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer."

The excitement of this news caused massive celebration and has since been honored every year on June 19. The event is an opportunity to help educate, rejoice and reflect on the achievements since this time. Citizens from all races, nationalities and religions join together to acknowledge a period in our history that helped to shape and influence our society today.

The African American Heritage Committee on Dyess hosts Juneteenth festivities at Stevenson Park June 17-19. A Freedom Walk will be held June 17, at 6 p.m. starting from the Woodson Center for Excellence on Cockerell Drive.

For information, call Master Sgt. Spencer Anderson, AAHC vice president at (325) 696-5288.