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.
Features
Related Photos
-
Floyd Johnson takes a minute to mop his barbecue with sauce at the Juneteenth Celebration last year. The Dunbar Heritage Association will have barbecue lunches available on June 19. (Daily Record File Photo) File Photo
Community comes together for Juneteenth celebration
- Features
-
-
HEB customers the big winners in Souper Bowl project
HEB customers throughout Kyle, Buda and San Marcos unanimously win MVP for this year's Souper Bowl of Caring, says local food bank community relations coordinator Jane Moore.
-
A Culinary Adventure
If the quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, then true, long-lasting love exists through a pair of adventurous eaters.
-
Plenty of love going into TVM fundraiser
More than 200 volunteers, 30 flats of strawberries, 470 pounds of chocolate and immeasurable amounts of love go into True Vineyards Ministries annual valentine's chocolate-covered strawberry sale.
-
Food for Thought
Several Hays County youth participated in the District 10 4-H Food Challenge held recently at Texas State University.
-
Discover new, great reads with BookLetters website
“I was watching The Today Show and they reviewed Elizabeth the Queen by Sally Bedell Smith."
-
The Heat is On
It should come as no surprise that the next few months will be drier and warmer than normal.
-
Celebrating a Legend
Doug Lawrence was an up-and-coming tenor sax player, having played with Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie and more, when he crossed paths with jazz pioneer — and San Marcos native — Eddie Durham in 1982.
-
‘Happy Birthday’ perfect antidote for winter blues
As the perfect antidote to winter blues, the Wimberley Players will open a rollicking farce, “Happy Birthday” by Marc Camoletti and adapted by Beverley Cross, today at the Wimberley Playhouse.
-
Counting down the many uses of corn
Nothing is more American than corn.
-
The Center of Attention
- More Features Headlines
-
HEB customers the big winners in Souper Bowl project
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
