Published: June 15, 2007 12:11 pm      

Community comes together for Juneteenth celebration

As a child, Bryan Ware didn’t celebrate Juneteenth with any specific event or tradition. His parents described June 19 as a celebration of freedom for slaves in the state of Texas, and that it was an important day to remember.

As he’s grown, the 22-year-old senior advertising major at Texas State University has come to see it as so much more.

“I’ve realized that it is a celebration of freedom, not only for African Americans, but for all people,” Ware said. “I also view the celebration as another opportunity to celebrate diversity in life.”

Ware and his fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi will be hosting one of the many Juneteenth celebrations in San Marcos on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. at Sewell Park. The community is invited for barbecue and drinks, a moon walk, slip ‘n’ slide, dominoes, volleyball and a spades tournament.

“Any and all San Marcos residents are invited,” Ware said. “We hope the people become more aware of what Juneteenth stands for.”

On June 19, 1865, almost three years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued, Union Major General Gordon Granger read General Order #3 to the people of Galveston which proclaimed from the executive of the United States that all slaves are free.

According to the Handbook of Texas online, “a few owners angrily told their slaves to leave immediately, but most expressed sorrow at the end of the institution and asked their bondsmen to stay and work for wages. The emancipated slaves celebrated joyously (if whites allowed it).”

The following year, the former slaves in Texas held a celebration and have every year since.

House Bill No.1016, passed in the 66th legislature, regular session, declared June 19 “Emancipation Day in Texas,” a legal state holiday effective Jan. 1, 1980.

The Dunbar Heritage Association will also host a celebration at Dunbar Park on Tuesday, June 19. Festivities begin at 11 a.m. and continue until 10 p.m. The schedule is as follows:



• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Barbecue lunches, $6 a plate

• 1 p.m. — 3 on 3 basketball tournament

• 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. — Cakewalk and bingo

• 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. — Children’s games and movie

• 6 p.m. — Peach cobbler cook-off

• 7 p.m. — Domino tournament



A cake auction will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the San Marcos Activity Center, sponsored by the Juneteenth Committee. For the past 27 years, this committee has used the cake auction to sponsor scholarships for area high school graduates.

“The Juneteenth Committee is very excited about the cake auction because, foremost, all profits raised benefit our recipients with scholarships to assist them in attending college,” said Rose Brooks, committee member. “The Juneteenth Committee takes great pride in supporting our local graduates because they are our future.”

Ware says that when he reflects on Juneteenth, he doesn’t just remember the freedom of slaves — he thinks about the importance of education, freedom, family and the sacrifice of those who came before him.

“I feel that it is essential for our fraternity to give back to the San Marcos community and inform them about the importance of the date,” Ware said.