NATIONAL JUNETEENTH OBSERVANCE FOUNDATION
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Chairman
P.O. Box 269
Belzoni, Mississippi 39038
662-247-3364 662-247-4767 Fax
www.Juneteenth.us www.19thofJune.com
May 15, 2008
The Honorable Robert Gates
Secretary of Defense
United States of America
1000 Defense PNT
Washington, DC 20301-1000
Dear Secretary Gates:
The "19th of June", Juneteenth Independence Day, is now being celebrated on military bases across the country and around the world. Military personnel on many of these bases have contacted me about their patriotic celebrations and the desire to display Juneteenth Flags at their celebrations.
Juneteenth, the "19th of June", recognizes June 19, 1865, in Galveston, TX, when Union General Gordon Granger announced freedom for all slaves in the Southwest. This was the last major vestige of slavery in the United States following the end of the Civil War. This occurred more than two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln. Upon the reading of General Order #3 by General Granger, the former slaves celebrated jubilantly, establishing America's second Independence Day Celebration and the oldest African-American holiday observance.
Juneteenth is now recognized as a state holiday or state holiday observance in Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Delaware, Idaho, Alaska, Iowa, California, Wyoming, Missouri, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Colorado, Arkansas, Oregon, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Virginia, Washington, Tennessee, Massachusetts, North Carolina, West Virginia, South Carolina and Vermont. In 2003, the District of Columbia passed legislation to recognize Juneteenth as a district holiday observance. Many more states, including Utah, Alabama, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Montana, Wisconsin and Maryland have recognized Juneteenth through annual state legislative resolutions, Gubernatorial Proclamations and current state holiday observance legislation.
In 1997, during the 105th Congress, a historic joint Juneteenth Resolution was passed by the Congress of the United States through Senate Joint Resolution 11, introduced by Senator Trent Lott (R-MS), and House Joint Resolution 56, introduced by Congressman J. C. Watts, Jr. (R-OK), recognizing the "19th of June" as Juneteenth Independence Day in America. In 2007, 109th Congress, through the unanimous passage of H. Con. Res. 231 by the House of Representatives and the unanimous passage of S. Res. 516 by the U.S. Senate, we are hopeful that President Bush will finally issue a Juneteenth Independence Day Proclamation.recognizing Juneteenth as a National Holiday Observance.
I would like to schedule a meeting with you, at your earliest convenience, to present you with an official Juneteenth Flag, discuss the patriotic symbolism of freedom the flag represents and to personally express our appreciation for all that has been done to continue to support Juneteenth Celebrations on military bases throughout America and around the world.
I have three sons in the military, two of whom have served two tours of duty in Iraq. One of my sons is serving in Baghdad at the present time. Meeting with you and presenting you with a Juneteenth Flag will be of great inspiration to them and the thousands of military personal who sacrificially and courageously serve their country to fight for freedom.
Thank you for your consideration of this important patriotic matter. I look forward to meeting with you soon.
Sincerely,
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D.
Founder & Chairman
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