HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuneteenth Day - June 19, 2021Proclamation
“Juneteenth Day”
June 19, 2021
WHEREAS, Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United
States; and
WHEREAS, on June 19th, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at
Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free, two and a half years after
President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and
achievement and is marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future; and
WHEREAS, in cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to
truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth has been celebrated in Pasco for over 40 years; and
WHEREAS, sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and
lasting improvements in our society; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Saul Martinez, Mayor of the City of Pasco, Washington, do hereby declare June
19, 2021, as
JUNETEENTH DAY
in the City of Pasco, Washington, and urge all residents to celebrate this historical day with music, food, dancing,
games, and the sharing of stories to become more aware of the significance of this celebration in African American
History and in the heritage of our nation and community.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the City of Pasco, Washington,
to be affixed this 14th day of June 2021.
Saul Martinez, Mayor
City of Pasco