PORT ARTHUR — Millions of Americans celebrated a national holiday with roosts that run deep in the heart of Texas.
Juneteenth marked the day when union soldiers arrived in Galveston in 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, to share President Lincoln’s message declaring the freedom of all slaves.
The following year, the first official Juneteenth celebrations took place in Texas.
For forty years, the African American Cultural Society has organized a Juneteenth parade in Port Arthur.
Despite the weather delaying this year’s parade, the organizers insist that we never forget the significance of Juneteenth.
“For me, Juneteenth is very humbling. It’s a sad moment, but it’s also a time of remembrance and celebration. Today, with it being a rainout, it kind of gave everybody, for me, a chance to sit back and reflect on the true meaning of Juneteenth, and you can only imagine what that generation or generations went through, and for us to even be celebrating June,” said Gail Pellum, an African American Cultural Society member.
The African American Cultural Society is concerned that the parade may have to be pushed back to December. This will be the first time in forty years that they’ve had to reschedule.
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