TITLE: Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Texas and the 2015 Juneteenth celebration in Limestone County.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Texas and the 2015 Juneteenth celebration in Limestone County.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, When residents of Limestone County gather for their annual observance of Juneteenth near Mexia on June 19, 2015, they will be celebrating the sesquicentennial of the day in 1865 that marked the official end of slavery in the State of Texas; and WHEREAS, On June 19, 1865, two months after the end of the Civil War, Major General Gordon Granger of the Union Army arrived in Galveston and issued a general order informing the people of Texas that all slaves in the state were now free, in accordance with President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation; compliance with the order on the part of slave owners was sometimes slow, but by the end of the year, most of those held in bondage had obtained their freedom; and WHEREAS, In Limestone County, news of emancipation was announced to some 300 slaves from the porch of the Stroud Plantation; before long, African Americans in the area began gathering annually at Comanche Crossing, on the Navasota River, to celebrate the anniversary of Juneteenth, as June 19 had come to be called; in the early years, the featured orator at the festivities was Ralph Long, who had represented Limestone, Navarro, and Hill Counties at the Texas Constitutional Convention of 1868-1869; the Juneteenth celebration at Comanche Crossing grew to attract as many as 20,000 people, and in 1898, the site was set aside by deed for the purpose of the Juneteenth observance; on July 7, 1912, the 19th of June Organization was chartered to administer the site, now known as Booker T. Washington Park; the Juneteenth celebration there is one of the oldest, on-going commemorations in the state; and WHEREAS, Today, 150 years after emancipation was proclaimed in Texas, Juneteenth continues to inspire gatherings that are both joyful and reflective; layered with meaning, these observances pay tribute to all those who endured the rigors of slavery, honor their immeasurable contributions to the development of this state and nation, and recognize the myriad accomplishments of the generations that have followed; the occasion also serves as a powerful summons to the continuing work of building a more just and inclusive society; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Texas and extend to all those taking part in the renowned Juneteenth celebration in Limestone County sincere best wishes for a memorable and meaningful event. Kacal Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 3235 was adopted by the House on May 30, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House