Proclamation
WHEREAS, the institution of Black slavery in America began in 1616 with the landing of the first African slaves on our shores and continued officially until President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863; and
WHEREAS, although this historic proclamation was issued in 1863, Texas slaves waited two-and-a-half years to receive word of their liberation, when on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger landed at Galveston and announced that all Texas slaves were free; and
WHEREAS, the 19th Day of June—or Juneteenth—became a day of jubilation and liberation for former slaves and today is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery in our nation; and
WHEREAS, on June 13, 1979 Governor William P. Clements signed a bill into law that made the Juneteenth Emancipation Day an official state holiday in Texas; and
WHEREAS, the community will celebrate Juneteenth 2018 with the Juneteenth Cake Auction on June 14 at the San Marcos Activity Center at 6 p.m.; a Barbecue Cook-Off and Music Festival at San Marcos City Park and Plaza Park on June 15 and 16; a parade through downtown San Marcos on June 16 starting at Dunbar Park; and church celebrations throughout the whole month; and
WHEREAS, several community partners have come together to host the Juneteenth festivities, including Impact San Marcos, Pride of San Marcos Lodge #494, the Bar-BQue Cook-Off Committee, the Cake Auction Scholarship Committee, and the Dunbar Heritage Association; and
WHEREAS, all are invited to celebrate the Juneteenth festivities and participate in the celebration of this significant holiday;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, John Thomaides, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of San Marcos, Texas do hereby proclaim the month of June, 2018 as
JUNETEENTH MONTH IN SAN MARCOS
AND DO HEREBY CALL upon the people of San Marcos to join in the celebration of this significant event throughout the month and to recognize the importance of Juneteenth to human freedoms so cherished by the people of the United States.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Seal of the City of San Marcos, Texas this 4th Day of June 2018.
John Thomaides
Mayor
