Juneteenth Celebration

The 2015 Dyer County Juneteenth celebration will host its activities at the Future City Community Center this Saturday, June 13. It celebrates the Union Army's announcement to slaves in Galveston, Texas that the Civil War was over and they were free on June 19, 1865.
The Dyer County Branch of the NAACP hosts an annual tradition, the Juneteenth celebration. With events scheduled from 6 a.m. until midnight, the center will be a bustling place with new activities included this year. A 5K Walk/Run, a healthy breakfast, a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation by Maj. Gen. Jimmy Welch, Children's Olympics and Fun Fest, free carnival rides, and a talent show, are some of the events planned for the day.

Juneteenth traces its roots to Galveston, Texas where on June 19, 1865, Gen. Gordon Granger led his platoon of Union soldiers to the city and provided the news that the war was over and the enslaved were now free. Granger's announcement came over two months after the end of the Civil War and over two years after President Lincoln's historic Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas the following year and are held today in 39 states and the District of Columbia.

"We are very excited to offer Juneteenth activities to our community again this year," said Michael Parr of the Dyer County NAACP.

The day will kick off at 7 a.m. with a free breakfast offered to the public (sponsored by the Salvation Army) and registration will begin for the 5K Run/Walk, which will begin at 7:30 a.m. (sponsored by Salters Chapel AME Church and Elite Level Prep).

A program at 9 a.m. will feature the raising of the American flag and the national anthem followed by speaker Maj. Gen. Jimmy G. Welch reading the "Emancipation Proclamation." Then the Juneteenth flag will be raised while singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing." Mr. and Mrs. Juneteenth will be presented along with awards for the 5K run.

"The Civil Rights Movement, Portraits" will be available from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. (sponsored by The Saint Joseph Ave. Church of Christ)

"One Dream Can Change the World: Selma" will be screened from 1-4 p.m.

From 4-6 p.m., Children's Olympics and Fun Fest (sponsored by the Tennessee Rollerz) will occur. Finally starting at 6 p.m. and running until midnight, a Talent Show, Gospel Explosion and Stomp Show will conclude the day's activities.