“Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won; you earn it and win it in every generation.” – Coretta Scott King
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. It honors the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States on June 19, 1865. Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.
The day is also called Emancipation Day and Freedom Day.
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Abraham Lincoln on September 22, 1862. It went into effect on January 1, 1863. However, slaves were not set free in the Confederacy until the Union Army took over. On June 18, 1865, the Union Army arrived in Galveston, Texas. The next day, General Gordon Granger announced that the slaves in Texas were free by order of the President of the United States. The first Juneteenth celebration took place the very next year.
Celebrations of the day include parades, marches and barbecues. Many gather for ceremonies that include public service awards, prayer and the raising of the Juneteenth Flag of Freedom. The flag is half red and half blue with a star in the middle.
Juneteenth also celebrates African American culture.
As the late United States Representative John Lewis righteously stated, “You must never ever give out. We must keep the faith because we are one people. We all live in the same house, the American house.”
On June 17, 2021, at the signing of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, President Biden said, “Great nations don’t ignore their most painful moments. They don’t ignore those moments of the past. They embrace them. Great nations don’t walk away. We come to terms with the mistakes we made. And in remembering those moments, we begin to heal and grow stronger.”
Let us continue with our commitment to equality and inclusivity. There is still much work to do.
- The Camden County Board of Elections needs poll workers for the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. This year, the board is hiring employees who are 16 and over. They will be paid $300 for the day, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call (856) 401-8683.
- The Voorhees Township 2024 summer concert series is back! Come out with your chairs and blankets and enjoy these great free shows. The first show is Thursday and will feature The Pour Boys 80’s Cover Band. The second show will be on Thursday, July 18, featuring Parrot Beach.
- Jimmy Buffet tribute. On Thursday, Aug. 15, The Beat Tells will greet the audience with their traditional Tribute to the Beatles. All shows start at 7:30 p.m. The shows will be even more enjoyable with Dooney’s Pub’s beer garden and a variety of food trucks that will open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit voorheesnj.com, the Voorhees Township Facebook page or call the show hotline at (856) 882-SHOW.
- Voorhees Township is once again partnering with Morey’s Piers to offer discounted tickets for their amusement piers located on the Boardwalk in Wildwood. Tickets may be obtained in person from the office of the Voorhees Township Clerk (856) 429-7757 and are payable by cash only. Tickets are available to residents and non-residents.
