Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery, dating back to 1865. It was on June 19 that the Union soldiers, led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, landed  in Galveston, Texas with the news the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. However, this was two and a half years after President Lincoln's infamous Emancipation Proclamation speech. The proclamation had become official on January 1, 1863.  Since there were so few Union Soldiers in Texas, there was no enforcement of the new order. On June 19, 1865, General Granger announced "all slaves are free," and with this great day of jubilation of African Americans comes the celebration of Juneteenth. In Texas, this celebration continues to be celebrated with many  descendants of former slaves making an annual pilgrimage back to Galveston, Texas.

Let us reflect on this day and our history and relish in how God has brought  us a mighty long way!