Juneteenth
Remembrance:
Juneteenth (June 19th) celebrates the emancipation of enslave people of African descent in Texas, the last state to do so in the United states. It is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery.
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the civil war had ended and that the enslaved were free even though this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had become official.
On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth became an official state holiday in Texas through the efforts of Al Edwards, an African American state legislator. The successful passage of this bill marked Juneteenth as the first emancipation celebration granted official state recognition. Edwards has since actively sought to spread the observance of Juneteenth all across America.
On June 17, 2021, President Biden and Vice President Harris signed into law the bill making Juneteenth an official federal holiday.
Sharefax feels that it is important to recognize this day as truly a turning point in the American story especially during these current turbulent times. Since fairness, understanding, and equality are the cornerstones of our culture at Sharefax, management wants to honor the importance of diversity and acceptance in our organization on June 19th.
We are celebrating the ending of a horrible chapter in our country’s history. However, the battle to bring equal justice and acceptance for all is ongoing. We must never forget that past patriots fought and died to create an America based on our founding principles of all men being created equal. All of us have a responsibility to continue this fight.
Sincerely,
Art Kremer