Juneteenth Celebration
by admin on Jun.19, 2009, under Breaking News
Today is Juneteenth, which marks June 19, the date that Texas first learned of President Abraham Lincoln’s declaration that slaves were to be freed.
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers led by Gen. Gordon Granger landed at Galveston with news that the Civil War had ended and that all slaves were free.
The Juneteenth celebration in Tyler on Saturday will include a blood drive, parade, events in Woldert Park and a gospel music concert.
The Juneteenth Association of Tyler’s blood drive, in conjunction with Carter BloodCare, will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 701 W. 32nd St., near Glass Recreation Center.
The annual parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Glenwood and Martin Luther King Jr. boulevards and end at Woldert Park. Assistant Police Chief Diannia Jackson will serve as the parade marshal, organizers said.
The celebration will continue with music and games at noon in Woldert Park.
A free gospel concert is set for 7 p.m. at St. Louis Baptist Church, 4000 Frankston Highway.
The concert will feature performances by the Hampton Sisters, the Rev. Marcus Jackson & New Five Ways of Joy, Broderick & Tabbotha McGee, Juilee Aires, North Tenneha Church of Christ Male Chorus and the Voices of Triumph, said Rosie Johnson, committee member.
