On June 19, 1865, freedom finally came to some 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state of Texas when 2,000 union troops arrived in Galveston Bay to announce that all slaves were then free by executive decree. Two years earlier, all enslaved people in the Confederate States were declared legally free when the Emancipation Proclamation took effect. That June day in 1865 came to be known as Juneteenth by the newly freed people in Texas, according to The National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Soon, we will be celebrating Independence Day, which comes around every July 4, commemorating the Declaration of Independence and symbolizing the freedom, joy and hope of the early colonists. Similarly, Juneteenth symbolizes the freedom, joy and hope that the newly freed slaves must have felt.

One way to honor Juneteenth all year is to continue to learn about the history of the day and the history of slavery. Some sites to check out are http://Juneteenth.com, http://nmaahc.si.edu and http://history.com. There are also some great children’s books about Juneteenth, such as “The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States” by Alliah L. Agostini and “Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth” by Alice Faye Duncan.

Checking out local libraries’ lists of books that would be good reads for learning more about Juneteenth and the events that preceded it is another way to find more interesting information. Many libraries have Juneteenth displays set up all month.

Brian Wolfer, Special to the Standard-Examiner

Juneteenth serves as a reminder to all of us to continue to work against all types of unfairness and unkindness. It might not be slavery that we are fighting against, but there, unfortunately, are still other types of oppression and mistreatment.

Many people commemorate Juneteenth by performing acts of service, as this special day represents a time of healing and a time when many people worked together to bring about change. Even just everyday simple kindnesses can help to change people’s lives. This is something that we can continue to do all year, as a way to keep the spirit of Juneteenth alive.