World War II veteran named Milwaukee Juneteenth parade grand marshal

FUTURE CLINICS ARE IN THE WORKS. MILWAUKEE’S ANNUAL JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL IS IN SIX WEEKS, AND THE GRAND MARSHAL OF THE JUBILEE PARADE THIS YEAR WILL BE ANNA MAE ROBERTSON, THE 101 YEAR OLD MILWAUKEE NATIVE IS ONE OF THE LAST SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE 6888 ARMY BATTALION FROM WORLD WAR TWO. LAST WEEK, LAWMAKERS IN WASHINGTON HONORED THE UNIT WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. THIS YEAR’S JUNETEENTH THEME IS A CELEBRATION OF LOVE, LIFE AND FREEDOM. AND THIS YEAR, JUNETEENTH COINCIDES WITH THE START OF SUMMERFEST, AND ORGANIZERS OF BOTH EVENTS ARE TEAMING UP FOR AN EXPANDED JUNETEENTH PROGRAMING AND ACTIVITIES. JUNETEENTH WILL CONTINUE AS IT’S ALWAYS CONTINUED. IT BELONGS TO THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE, SO DON’T WORRY, IT’S NOT LEAVING KING DRIVE. WE’RE JUST GROWING. WE WANT THIS TO BE A BEAUTIFUL DAY OF COMMUNITY FUN, FAMILY FUN AND JUST, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE COMING OUT TO CELEBRATE FREEDOM, LOVE AND LIFE. JUNETEENTH ORGANIZERS A

Milwaukee native Anna Mae Robertson was part of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion

A Milwaukee World War II veteran will serve as the grand marshal of the city’s annual Juneteenth parade.At 101 years old, Anna Mae Robertson is one of the last surviving members of the “Six Triple Eight,” the army battalion responsible for clearing out a backlog of 17 million pieces of mail in just three months. In April, the all Black women’s unit was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress’ highest honor.The Juneteenth parade starts at 14th Street and Atkinson Avenue at 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 19. That same day, the Milwaukee Juneteenth Day Celebration will bring vendors and family-friendly activities to Locust Street and Doctor M.L.K. Jr. Drive from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Then, Summerfest will have special Juneteenth programming starting at 6 p.m. Milwaukee Juneteenth organizers are still accepting volunteers and vendors. You can find more information here. The event is one of the largest and longest-running Juneteenth celebrations in the country, drawing more than 50,000 people every year.Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom, two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

MILWAUKEE —

A Milwaukee World War II veteran will serve as the grand marshal of the city’s annual Juneteenth parade.

At 101 years old, Anna Mae Robertson is one of the last surviving members of the “Six Triple Eight,” the army battalion responsible for clearing out a backlog of 17 million pieces of mail in just three months. In April, the all Black women’s unit was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress’ highest honor.

The Juneteenth parade starts at 14th Street and Atkinson Avenue at 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 19. That same day, the Milwaukee Juneteenth Day Celebration will bring vendors and family-friendly activities to Locust Street and Doctor M.L.K. Jr. Drive from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Then, Summerfest will have special Juneteenth programming starting at 6 p.m.

Milwaukee Juneteenth organizers are still accepting volunteers and vendors. You can find more information here. The event is one of the largest and longest-running Juneteenth celebrations in the country, drawing more than 50,000 people every year.

Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom, two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.