| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration Foundation |
|
|
is hosting its 2021 Juneteenth Celebration from June 14 to 19, 2021; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 2002, city council member Don Smith enlisted |
|
|
residents, local businesses, and civic leaders in the effort to |
|
|
develop an event highlighting the profound historical importance of |
|
|
the Emancipation Proclamation; the Missouri City Juneteenth |
|
|
Celebration Foundation was established with the goals of organizing |
|
|
culturally relevant activities, creating programs to nurture young |
|
|
talent, and bringing together families from all backgrounds in a |
|
|
wholesome and inspiring setting; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Emancipation Proclamation was promulgated on |
|
|
January 1, 1863, but it could not be enforced in Texas until after |
|
|
the Civil War; on June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger of the |
|
|
Union Army arrived in Galveston and that same day issued General |
|
|
Order No. 3, declaring the freedom of all those held in bondage; |
|
|
emancipated men and women marked the first anniversary of this date |
|
|
in 1866, and over the years, Juneteenth became a proud celebration |
|
|
of a momentous milestone in this nation's history; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, African Americans who moved away from Texas took the |
|
|
Juneteenth tradition with them, and it was embraced nationally; in |
|
|
1979, Texas became the first state to make the celebration an |
|
|
official holiday; today, Missouri City's Juneteenth program has |
|
|
grown to encompass a wide variety of activities, including a |
|
|
kick-off reception, a parade, a community service awards gala, and |
|
|
a golf tournament as well as musical performances; the Freedom |
|
|
Tree, located in Freedom Tree Park, serves as a focal point and |
|
|
symbol of African American resilience; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The much-anticipated Juneteenth celebration in |
|
|
Missouri City provides a fitting opportunity to reflect on African |
|
|
Americans' long road to freedom and to recognize their immeasurable |
|
|
contributions to the building of this country over the centuries; |
|
|
now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the 2021 Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration |
|
|
be commemorated and that all those participating be extended |
|
|
sincere best wishes for a memorable and meaningful event. |