6-22-2024 3:37pm

Juneteenth Celebration Alamogordo 2024 from Holloman AFB to Washington Park

Chris Edwards Editor

Juneteenth is celebrated as the oldest commemoration to the end of slavery in the U.S. and was remembered via a celebration at Washington Park this warm and humid Saturday.

For some its history is little known, a fact that a celebration of the federal holiday in Alamogordo helps to shine a light upon. Interestingly many people were unaware of the significance of Juneteenth until this most recent decade.

In 1865 Major General Gordon Granger led Union soldiers to Galveston, Texas where he announced that those who were once slaves, were now free men and women. This was two years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation which had little to no impact on slave owners in Texas due to the small amount of Union soldiers capable of implementing the order.

The celebration at Washington Park was just one of a few held in Otero County. U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Mary Mines, 49th Wing command and control superintendent, center, talked about the significance of the Juneteenth holiday at a celebration in the Base Exchange at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, June 17, 2024. Attendees heard guest speakers, listened to poetry and enjoyed samples of popular African American food.

Back at Washington Park multiple diverse groups in unity celebrated this significant moment in history by being present. From LULAC Councils, to 100% Otero to include Alamogordo Commissioners, Sharon McDonald and Warren Robinson encouraging individuals to participate in community cleanup days, a wide variety of interests were there.

LULAC Council 8105 and the League of Womens Voters were bringing an awareness to voter registration and awareness to local political issues.

Candidate Ashlie Myers was on hand seeking support of her candidacy for Representative of District 51

A wide variety of issue booths were on hand with free speech well represented

Opponents of Charter Schools in Alamogordo had a petition being circulated at LULAC 8105 booth, mental health advocates were on hand and more.

The picnic and public celebration included music, prayer and dancing…

A little bit of cultural was on display with the Alamogordo Music Theater and Mystical Journey

A good time was had by all. To learn more about Juneteenth and its significance check out these video links below…

Juneteenth
BrainPOP presents a short video on the history of Juneteenth, along with classroom activities and discussion questions for elementary students.

Juneteenth Explained
Video-creation software company Vyond created this short, animated video for younger audiences that concisely presents the history of Juneteeth.

Why Juneteenth is Important for America
The Root released this video about the importance of Juneteenth in 2018. It includes information on the violent backlashBlack Americans faced from white Americans opposing their freedom.

Meet the Grandmother of Juneteenth
Opal Lee fought for decades to have Juneteenth recognized as a national holiday. Watch her interview on Good Morning America in 2021, after attending the ceremony where President Biden made June 19 a federal holiday.