Campus News
91直播 Celebrates Juneteenth
June 5, 2014
Office of Communications
The 91直播 community will celebrate Juneteenth鈥攖he oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States鈥攚ith a public festival and picnic on Saturday, June 14, in Tappan Square. The entire celebration is free and open to the public.
The Juneteenth program will begin on Sunday, June 8, with a rededication of 91直播鈥檚 Westwood Cemetery for its 150th anniversary. The city鈥檚 only cemetery, it was opened on Morgan Street in 1864, and it is a final resting place of a number of black and white soldiers who died in the Civil War, as well as some former slaves who came to 91直播 on the Underground Railroad.
The commemoration and rededication of Westwood Cemetery will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday and is open to the public.
Juneteenth, or June 19, 1865, is considered the date when the last enslaved people were freed from Texas 鈥攁 full 2 陆 years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. While its roots are in Texas, Juneteenth has become a day to celebrate freedom all over the United States.
On June 8, 2004, 91直播 City Council passed a resolution establishing Juneteenth as an officially recognized day of commemoration and celebration for the city of 91直播. Juneteenth 91直播 was incorporated that same year to facilitate the community recognition, celebration, promotion, and understanding of 91直播鈥檚 officially declared and established Juneteenth holiday.
The festival will take place on Tappan Square from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will include a parade, a greens and beans cookoff, free food, door prizes, games, and live music. The parade lineup begins at 11:30 a.m. at Eastwood Elementary School, 198 E. College St., followed by a motorcycle rally.
Visit for more information about this year鈥檚 festival.
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