Juneteenth Holiday Marks Important Part of US History

On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, making Juneteenth a federal holiday in the United States. Juneteenth—June 19, 1865—was the day Union soldiers enforced President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation freeing all remaining slaves in Texas. Originating in Galveston, Texas, Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and it is observed as a celebration of African-American culture.

Juneteenth has been celebrated annually on June 19 in various parts of the United States. The North Syracuse Central School District is proud to join in this celebration of US History.

We invite you to learn more about Juneteenth by visiting the following:

• The Heritage Foundation: What is Juneteenth, and Why Should Every American Want To Celebrate It?
• History: What is Juneteenth?
• National Museum of African American History & Culture: The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth