Juneteenth Celebration
Juneteenth commemorates the message of freedom brought to formerly enslaved people in Galveston, TX by US Army troops on June 19, 1865. From General Order 3 issued by General Gordon Granger:
"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, 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 people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, 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 celebration that followed this order evolved into an annual celebration of liberty. Germantown celebrates this year on Saturday, June 17.
