| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration Foundation |
|
|
is commemorating in 2015 the sesquicentennial of Juneteenth, the |
|
|
historic date that signifies the end of slavery in Texas; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, It was on June 19, 1865, that General Gordon Granger |
|
|
of the Union Army landed in Galveston and issued an order declaring |
|
|
that, in accordance with President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation |
|
|
Proclamation, those held in bondage in the State of Texas were now |
|
|
free; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 2002, city council member Don Smith established |
|
|
the Missouri City Juneteenth Foundation to engage residents, |
|
|
businesses, and civic leaders in creating an event to honor that |
|
|
watershed date; the annual Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration now |
|
|
offers five days of family-oriented activities, including a parade, |
|
|
historical reenactments, a golf tournament, a "battle of the bands" |
|
|
for high school musicians, a health and wellness fair, and musical |
|
|
performances in a wide variety of genres; while events take place in |
|
|
a number of venues, the focal point remains the Freedom Tree located |
|
|
in Freedom Tree Park; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In addition to organizing the festival, the |
|
|
foundation strives to enhance opportunities for Fort Bend County |
|
|
students; it supports a college scholarship fund, and it develops |
|
|
programs to nurture and showcase the talents of local youths; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Under the continued leadership of chair Don Smith, |
|
|
the Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration Foundation promotes |
|
|
community involvement, increases knowledge of African American |
|
|
history, and fosters goodwill and fellowship among area residents; |
|
|
now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby honor the Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration |
|
|
Foundation for working to commemorate a momentous day in Texas |
|
|
history and extend to all those involved with the organization |
|
|
sincere best wishes for a successful 2015 event; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for the foundation as an expression of high regard by the |
|
|
Texas House of Representatives. |