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 PresidentAbraham 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, prayers 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 up. 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, Former 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.”
This year, the Voorhees Cultural and Diversity Committee is hosting a Juneteenth Celebration on June 19 from 6 PM to 9 PM at Connolly Park. Enjoy music, food trucks and much more. For more information, contact Jennifer Branch Stewart at jbstewart421@gmail.com.
Let us continue to uphold our commitment to equality and inclusion, recognizing that there is still much work ahead.
** The summer hours for the Voorhees Town Hall will be in effect until Tuesday, September 8. The Township offices will be open Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 5:30 PM and will be closed on Fridays.
** Our Summer Concert Series kicks off on June 25 at Connolly Park at 7 PM with the band, Gilligan Yacht Rock. Join us for an evening of live music and community fun. Bring your blankets and chairs to relax and enjoy the show. Food trucks and Dooney’s Garden of Spirits will be available on-site. Parking and admission are free. Please note that the dog park will be closed during the event. For more information, please visit the Township social media platforms.
** Voorhees Township is hosting a Property Tax Relief Filing event on Thursday, August 13, from 10 AM to 1 PM at Lion’s Lake. Residents aged 65 and over, or those receiving Social Security Disability benefits, are invited to meet with a tax division representative for assistance with filing their application for the Senior Freeze, Anchor and Stay NJ program. This filing session will focus on the blue 2025 Form PAS-1 booklet you received in the mail. Please bring the following items: Photo ID, Social Security number, Income documentation, Property tax totals billed for both 2024 and 2025. No appointments are necessary; this is a first-come, first-served event, and you do not need to be a Voorhees resident. More information can be found here: https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/relief.shtml
** Voorhees Township is once again partnering with Morey’s Piers to offer discounted tickets for their amusement piers located on the Boardwalk in Wildwood, NJ. Tickets may be obtained in person from the office of the Voorhees Township Clerk at (856) 429-7757 and are payable by cash only. Tickets are available to residents and non-residents. For more information, contact the Clerk’s office.
