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Join the museum’s Juneteenth celebration – during the entire month of June – and embrace the rich history of Freedom Day each week.

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The First Juneteenth

A Freedom Deferred

Tastes of Resilience

Sounds of Freedom

Juneteenth Today

Digital Toolkit

Reading List

Commemorative Collection

Community Day

On June 19, 1865, nearly two years after President Abraham Lincoln emancipated enslaved Africans in America, Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas with news of freedom. More than 250,000 African Americans embraced freedom by executive decree in what became known as Juneteenth or Freedom Day. With the principles of self-determination, citizenship, and democracy magnifying their hopes and dreams, those Texans held fast to the promise of true liberty for all.

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"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer." Gordon Granger Union General, June 19, 1865

The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth

What is Juneteenth?

The Historical Legacy of Black Family Reunions

The coming of summer heralds cook-outs, line dancing, and brightly colored t-shirts iconic of Black family reunions.

With the end of slavery, searching for family members who had been separated or sold away became the focus of many formerly enslaved individuals. The number of years of separation did not deter people from hoping to reunite with lost loved ones. Newspaper advertisements, letters and word of mouth were all employed as part of the search. The hope was that a positive response might lead to a reunion with family members.    

Emancipation and Educating the Newly Freed

Publishers throughout the North responded to a demand for copies of Lincoln’s proclamation and produced numerous decorative versions, including this engraving by R. A. Dimmick in 1864. 

Smithsonian Transcription Center

Office of Sub Asst. Comr. Bur. R.F. & A.L. sixth Sub District of Texas Columbus Tex June 12th 1867. Lieut. J.T. Kirkman U.S.A. Supt. of Education Bur. R.F. & A.L. Galveston Tex Sir: The freedpeople of this County are to celebrate the anniversary of their Emancipation on Saturday June 24th. The schools of this District  will form a feature of the day's enjoyment in making  short addresses + singing songs and hymns. It has been suggested that Prizes be  distributed on that day to those of the children  who have received the highest averages for good conduct and application to study. Will the Bureau furnish these say 10 or 15 handsome Bibles and a  few other good Books for the occasion? Very Respectfully Your Obd't Servt Enon M. Harris S.A. Comr. Records of the Superintendent of Education for the State of Texas Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865–1870, Letters Received, Unregistered Letters Received View the Document

Explore the symbolism of red foods as a sign of resilience and joy. The color red is highly associated with the cultures that would've come through the later years of the TransAtlantic slave trade, which would have been Yoruba and Kongo. People from the Yoruba of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo; and the Kongo of Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Congo and Gabon—placed great philosophical and spiritual value in the color red as it symbolizes sacrifice, transition and power.  

Based on time-honored recipes updated for today’s palate, NMAAHC Curator Joanne Hyppolite and Sweet Home Executive Chef Ramin Coles will discuss how at-home audiences can design and cook a delicious Juneteenth Day menu for family and friends.

Cherry Cobbler - 2:41

Red Beans and Rice - 10:51

Cherry Cola BBQ sauce - 17:03

Stewed Okra w/ Tomatoes and Corn - 24:00

BBQ Chicken - 29:14

Charlotte Lyons, food editor of Ebony Magazine, demonstrates how to make Salmon Tacos in the famous Ebony Food Kitchen.

NMAAHC Web Content Specialist Andre Thompson and his family show how to make the perfect brisket for Juneteenth.

Celebrate the ways slaves sung their way to freedom. Highlighting songs of survival and negro spirituals. Listen to music that symbolizes hope, joy and perseverance and honors Black Americans' lives, legacy, resilience and self-sufficiency.

Rochelle Rice sings "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

Who Celebrates Juneteenth?

Frederick Douglass once famously asked, “ What to a slave is the Fourth of July? ” To honor the anniversary of the freedom granted to those enslaved African Americans, we’ve pondered a similar question, “What is the significance of Juneteenth to the Black community?” 

In 2021, Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday, opening it to symbolic and global interpretation and providing a better understanding of the evolution of our nation and its people. Juneteenth celebrations then, like now, recognize the ongoing fight for human rights and equality and are commemorated through family cookouts, faith services, musical performances and storytelling. Today, Juneteenth celebrates African American resilience and achievement while aiding in the preservation of those historical narratives that promoted racial and personal advancement since Freedom Day. 

U.S. President Joe Biden signs the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law in the East Room of the White House on June 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. The Juneteenth holiday marks the end of slavery in the United States and the Juneteenth National Independence Day will become the 12th legal federal holiday — the first new one since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was signed into law in 1983.

"As we continue to celebrate Juneteenth as a federal holiday, we remember and recognize how the Black community continues to make a way out of no way, overcoming trials and celebrating triumphs while honoring the place and price of freedom." Kevin Young Andrew W. Mellon Director, NMAAHC

Juneteenth Community Day

Freedom, Movement and Migration Saturday, June 15, 2024 - 11:00 am – 4:30 pm

Video Header Credit: Film 26, 1926, 1928, undated. Solomon Sir Jones Films. Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

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• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/watch-live-2024-pbs-national-memorial-day-concert

WATCH: 2024 PBS National Memorial Day Concert

This Sunday, PBS is broadcasting the 35th annual National Memorial Day Concert, hosted by Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise.

Watch the event in the player above.

With all-star performances and tributes from Washington, D.C., the concert honors United States servicemen and women, military families, veterans and all those who have given their lives for the nation.

WATCH: Remembering and honoring the nation’s fallen on Memorial Day

The broadcast features celebrities sharing real-life stories spanning the history of U.S. military conflicts, tributes from award-winning musicians and performances from U.S. military choirs and ensembles.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Chiefs of Staff will also speak at the concert about the value military service and the challenges that veterans and their families face.

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What is Memorial Day? The true meaning of why we celebrate the federal holiday

For many Americans, Memorial Day is more than a long weekend and an unofficial start to the summer season. The real meaning of the holiday is meant to honor all U.S. soldiers who have died serving their country.

Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day's history goes back to the Civil War. It was was declared a national holiday by Congress in 1971, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Although Veterans Day in November also honors military service members, Memorial Day differs by honoring all military members who have died while serving in U.S. forces in any current or previous wars.

The late-May holiday has also evolved into an opportunity for Americans to head to the beach or lake , travel to see friends and family , or even catch a Memorial Day parade .

Here's what to know about the history and the reason behind why we observe Memorial Day.

Memorial Day weather: Severe storms could hamper your travel, outdoor plans for Memorial Day weekend

When is Memorial Day?

One of 11 federal holidays recognized in the U.S., Memorial Day is always observed on the last Monday of May. This year, the holiday falls on Monday, May 27.

Why do we celebrate Memorial Day?  

The origins of the holiday can be traced back to local observances for soldiers with neglected gravesites during the Civil War.

The first observance of what would become Memorial Day, some historians think, took place in Charleston, South Carolina at the site of a horse racing track that Confederates had turned into a prison holding Union prisoners. Blacks in the city organized a burial of deceased Union prisoners and built a fence around the site, Yale historian David Blight wrote in  The New York Times  in 2011.

Then on May 1, 1865, they held an event there including a parade – Blacks who fought in the Civil War participated – spiritual readings and songs, and picnicking. A commemorative marker was erected there in 2010.

One of the first Decoration Days was held in Columbus, Mississippi, on April 25, 1866 by women who decorated graves of Confederate soldiers who perished in the battle at Shiloh with flowers. On May 5, 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War, the tradition of placing flowers on veterans’ graves was continued by the establishment of Decoration Day by an organization of Union veterans, the Grand Army of the Republic. 

General Ulysses S. Grant presided over the first large observance, a crowd of about 5,000 people, at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on May 30, 1873.

This tradition continues to thrive in cemeteries of all sizes across the country. 

Until World War I, Civil War soldiers were solely honored on this holiday. Now, all Americans who’ve served are observed. 

At least 25 places in the North and the South claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. Some states that claim ownership of the origins include Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, according to Veterans Affairs.

Despite conflicting claims, the U.S. Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, New York, as the “birthplace” of Memorial Day on May 30, 1966, after Governor Nelson Rockefeller's declaration that same year. The New York community formally honored local veterans May 5, 1866 by closing businesses and lowering flags at half-staff. 

Why is Memorial Day in May? 

The day that we celebrate Memorial Day is believed to be influenced by Illinois U.S. Representative John A. Logan, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat in November 1858, and served as an officer during the Mexican War.

It is said that Logan, a staunch defender of the Union, believed Memorial Day should occur when flowers are in full bloom across the country, according to the  National Museum of the U.S. Army.

Congress passed an act making May 30 a holiday in the District of Columbia in 1888,  according to the U.S. Congressional Research Service.

In 2000, the National Moment of Remembrance Act – which created the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance and encourages all to pause at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence – was signed into law by Congress and the President.

What is the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?

Memorial Day and Veterans Day both honor the sacrifices made by U.S. veterans, but the holidays serve different purposes.

Veterans Day, originally called “Armistice Day,” is a younger holiday established in 1926 as a way to commemorate all those who had served in the U.S. armed forces during World War I.

Memorial Day honors all those who have died.

Home Collections Special days Special Days National Space Day

National Space Day PowerPoint And Google Slides Themes

National Space Day Presentation Slides

National Space Day is a day that reveres the marvels of space exploration, commemorating the astounding achievements in our understanding of the universe. It serves as a call to celebrate the boundless possibilities that beckon beyond our planet's boundaries. On this occasion, space agencies, educators, scientists, and enthusiasts unite to ignite the spark of curiosity in future generations and fuel their passion for the cosmos. Designed with educators, space enthusiasts, and communicators in mind, the National Space Day PowerPoint template stands as an invaluable tool for crafting captivating presentations that educate and inspire. With fully editable slides, this template enables you to engage your audience effectively, whether you're a teacher aiming to instill curiosity or a space advocate sharing the latest cosmic discoveries. The advantages are unmistakable: a polished presentation that communicates your passion for space exploration and motivates others to partake in the thrilling journey of discovery. Seize this template and, together, let's inspire a new generation of space aficionados as we reach for the stars.

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Memorial Day Observance at San Francisco National Cemetery

Ceremony to honor our fallen heroes will include Speakers, Color Guard, Rifle Salute, Gold Star Family wreath presentation, Bagpiper, Band and Vocalist, and U.S. Coast Guard flyover. Event emcee: Ken Wayne, journalist and Navy veteran.

Presidio of San Francisco

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Memorial Day ceremony held at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery

An annual Memorial Day ceremony was held at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery on Monday.

Community members, loved ones of fallen heroes, and living veterans were among those in attendance.

The ceremony included a rifle salute, a full presentation of the colors, a wreath presentation, and words of remembrance.

"As we here at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, and across the Commonwealth, somberly honored their legacy of sacrifice today, let us account for the present, reflect on the past and renew our commitment of service to our nation," said Whitney Allen, commissioner of Kentucky Veterans Association.

More than 14,000 service members are buried at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, ranging from the Spanish-American War, World War I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War.

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READ THE FULL STORY: Memorial Day ceremony held at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery

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Keweenaw Veterans Affairs Office, American Legion Post 230 hold Memorial Day presentation

MOHAWK, Mich. (WLUC) - Dozens of people kicked off their Memorial Day on Monday with Keweenaw County’s annual Memorial Day presentation.

The Keweenaw Veterans Affairs Office and American Legion Post 230 put on the service at the Keweenaw County Veterans Memorial Park in Mohawk. They were joined by the Calumet High School Band and JROTC for the proceedings.

“When you’re talking about having people sign up and join the military in a time of war, there’s always that risk that you’re going to lose your life,” Keweenaw County Veterans Service Officer Josh Rheault said. “But if you grow up in an area where they’re telling you and showing you that your sacrifice won’t be in vain, your community will remember you, your grandkids will know your name, it helps with that patriotism and that desire to serve.”

According to Rheault, the presentation honored the more than 666,000 service members who have died in action across the nation’s history. It is still unknown just how many of these fallen veterans lived in Keweenaw County.

“Unfortunately, the record-keeping wasn’t as good in the early years, and we still actively work to identify graves that were veterans that haven’t been identified,” Rheault said. “Members of the community can play a huge help in that. If you know somebody’s grave that was a veteran that isn’t receiving a marker, reach out to your township, call my office, and we’ll ensure we get that right because we want to honor those people.”

Currently, the county is home to roughly 320 veterans, the majority being from the Vietnam War, according to Rheault.

Copyright 2024 WLUC. All rights reserved.

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