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Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - National Juneteenth Board Meeting & Conference FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (9/29/09) Contact: Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & Chairman National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) 662-247-1471 662-247-3364 e-mail: JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com web site: www.Juneteenth.us web site: www.njclc.com John Thompson, Executive Producer National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters (NAJJP) Juneteenth America, Inc. 909-621-9707 e-mail: johnharold@juneteenthamerica.us web sites: www.JuneteenthJazz.com www.JuneteenthAmerica.us Lestine Byars Board of Directors National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) 773-684-6070 e-mail: lbyarsciess@aol.com web sites: www.19thofJune.com
Chicago Native & National Juneteenth Chairman
Rev. Ronald Myers, Sr., M.D., Lobbies Congress for Holiday National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign Leaders to Covene Conference in Chicago National Juneteenth Jazz Artist Comes Home to Perform 
  Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., (left) Chairman of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) and the National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC), Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL), (right) Chairman of the National Juneteenth Congressional Committee and Senator Roland Burris (D-IL) bottom.  Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. National Juneteenth Jazz Artist (Chicago, Illinois) - Chicago native, Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., leader of the Campaign to Establish Juneteenth as a National Holiday Observance will return home to host the National Juneteenth Board Meeting & Conference, October 16-18, 2009, at the "All New" Hilton Oak Lawn Hotel, October 16-18, 2009. Dr. Myers is hopeful that congress will enact legislation to commemorate Juneteenth National Freedom Day, officially marking the "19th of June" on all calendars as America's 2nd Independence Day. Juneteenth leaders are confident that Senator Roland Burris (D-IL), the only African American member of the U.S. Senate, will lead legislative efforts to make 2010 a special year in acknowledgement of American history. Juneteenth, or 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 32 states, including 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, Vermont, Nebraska, Kansas and Wisconsin. 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, and Maryland have recognized Juneteenth through state legislative resolutions and Gubernatorial Proclamations. "We are very much appreciative of the tremendous support Congressman Danny Davis has given Juneteenth," states Dr. Myers, Founder and Chairman of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) and the National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC). "As Chairman of the National Juneteenth Congressional Committee, Congressman Davis has been heart and soul of Juneteenth in congress for many years." "Juneteenth is a freedom celebration significant for all Americans and the forerunner to the 13th Amendment, " states John Thompson, Founder & CEO of Juneteenth America, Inc. host of the annual National Juneteenth Convention and Expo, in Ontario, California. "Juneteenth brings all Americans together to celebrate the end of slavery and freedom," continues Thompson. "Juneteenth is America's 2nd Independence Day." Thousands of petitions have been forwarded to the White House urging President Obama to make Juneteenth a national holiday observance and to establish a Presidential National Juneteenth Commission. "The official recognition of Juneteenth Independence Day and the end of enslavement by state governments and congress are very significant steps in bringing healing to America from the legacy of enslavement," states Rev., Dr. Myers, also the Founder and Director of the National Day of Reconciliation & Healing From the Legacy of Enslavement and the National Juneteenth Black Holocaust "Maafa" Memorial Service during the annual WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance. Juneteenth Jazz will also be featured at the conference. As the National Juneteenth Jazz Artist, minister, physician and jazz musician, Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., performs across the country promoting "June Is Black Music Month!" - CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH JAZZ - Preserving Our African American Jazz Legacy!" Founder of the National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters (NAJJP), Myers also conducts youth jazz workshops and lectures on African American jazz legacy. The NAJJP is the sponsor of several Juneteenth Jazz Legacy Concerts and African American Art Exhibits during Black Music Month, including the historic African-American jazz legacy cities of Kansas City, MO and Omaha, NB. For more information on the National Juneteenth Board Meeting & Conference contact Dr. Myers at 662-247-3364, or 662-247-1471; e-mail: JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com, web sites: www.Juneteenth.us, www.njclc.com, www.19thofJune.com and www.JuneteenthJazz.com, or contact NJOF board member and Director of the Chicago Juneteenth Celebration, Lestine Byars at 773-684-6070; e-mail: lbyarsciess@aol.com. |