For some the words, Juneteenth Day wouldnt mean much, but for African Americans the word is important, whether they recall its meaning.
The term refers to June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived at Galveston, Texas toward the end of the Civil War.
Once in Galveston, the soldiers declared an end to the war and proclaimed slaves in America were free.
While history shows prejudice and hatred toward blacks would not subside for some time, in the South particularly, it was a start the country needed to end the horrific treatment of African-American slaves.
There is more to Juneteenth Day, it is also a holiday celebrated by communities around the United States.
Tuesday, Wisconsin officially recognized the occasion.
Gov. Jim Doyle signed a bill making the day, June 19, a legal state holiday.
The recognition of the day isnt new in Wisconsin, Milwaukee has celebrated the day since the 1970s, according to the Associated Press.
In a sea of days and months recognizing everything from National Mentoring Month to Heart Disease Awareness Month, and others that might not seem necessary, such as National Pet Dental Health Month (February,) recognizing such an important day in African American history not to mention American history is the right thing to do.
One observation:
Kudos to the man picking up alcoholic beverage containers along Bethel Road just south of Monroe Tuesday. I saw the man picking up the trash along that stretch while on my daily bike ride. The number of alcohol bottles and cans including the cardboard 12-pack container along Bethel was more than the normal amount of alcohol-related trash I see on a daily basis in Green County. Good job sir.
Green County Farmhouse Project
Keep sending your farmhouse photos. If I collect just a few more, the project can get off the ground. Remember, I only need a straight-on shot of your farmhouse to help document how farm families have lived over the years. No barns or people in the frame, please. Send the photos to newseditor@themonroetimes.com.
Take care and watch out for bicycles.
The term refers to June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived at Galveston, Texas toward the end of the Civil War.
Once in Galveston, the soldiers declared an end to the war and proclaimed slaves in America were free.
While history shows prejudice and hatred toward blacks would not subside for some time, in the South particularly, it was a start the country needed to end the horrific treatment of African-American slaves.
There is more to Juneteenth Day, it is also a holiday celebrated by communities around the United States.
Tuesday, Wisconsin officially recognized the occasion.
Gov. Jim Doyle signed a bill making the day, June 19, a legal state holiday.
The recognition of the day isnt new in Wisconsin, Milwaukee has celebrated the day since the 1970s, according to the Associated Press.
In a sea of days and months recognizing everything from National Mentoring Month to Heart Disease Awareness Month, and others that might not seem necessary, such as National Pet Dental Health Month (February,) recognizing such an important day in African American history not to mention American history is the right thing to do.
One observation:
Kudos to the man picking up alcoholic beverage containers along Bethel Road just south of Monroe Tuesday. I saw the man picking up the trash along that stretch while on my daily bike ride. The number of alcohol bottles and cans including the cardboard 12-pack container along Bethel was more than the normal amount of alcohol-related trash I see on a daily basis in Green County. Good job sir.
Green County Farmhouse Project
Keep sending your farmhouse photos. If I collect just a few more, the project can get off the ground. Remember, I only need a straight-on shot of your farmhouse to help document how farm families have lived over the years. No barns or people in the frame, please. Send the photos to newseditor@themonroetimes.com.
Take care and watch out for bicycles.
