Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the U.S. It honors the emancipation of enslaved African Americans on June 19, 1865 and was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.
The holiday is also called Emancipation Day and Freedom Day.
The Emancipation Proclamation was announced by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 and went into effect on Jan. 1, 1863. But not all slaves were set free in the Confederacy until the Union Army took over.
On June 18, 1865, the army arrived in Galveston, Texas. The next day, Gen. Gordon Granger announced that the slaves in Texas were free by order of the president. The first Juneteenth celebration took place the very next year.
Celebrations of the day include parades, marches and barbecues. Many gather for ceremonies that include public service awards, prayers and the raising of the Juneteenth Flag of Freedom, which is half red and half blue with a star in the middle.
Juneteenth also celebrates African American culture. As the late Congressman John Lewis righteously stated, “You must never ever give up. We must keep the faith because we are one people. We all live in the same house, the American house.”
At the signing of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act in 2021, then President Joe Biden said, “Great nations don’t ignore their most painful moments. They don’t ignore those moments of the past. They embrace them. Great nations don’t walk away. We come to terms with the mistakes we made. And in remembering those moments, we begin to heal and grow stronger.”
This year, the Voorhees Cultural and Diversity Committee is hosting a Juneteenth celebration on the 19th from 6 to 9 p.m. at Connolly Park. Enjoy music, food trucks and much more. For more information, contact Jennifer Branch Stewart at jbstewart421@gmail.com.
Let us continue to uphold our commitment to equality and inclusion, recognizing that there is still much work ahead.
Summer hours
Summer hours for town hall will be in effect until Tuesday, Sept. 8. Offices will be open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and will be closed on Fridays.
Music to our ears
Our summer Thursday concert series kicks off at 7 p.m. on June 25 at Connolly Park, with the band Gilligan Yacht Rock. Join us for an evening of live music and community fun. Bring your blankets and chairs to relax and enjoy the show. Food trucks and Dooney’s Garden of Spirits will be available on-site. Parking and admission are free. Please note that the dog park will be closed during the event. For more information, visit the township social media platforms.
Tax help
The township is hosting a property tax relief filing event on Thursday, Aug. 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lion’s Lake. Residents 65 and over – or those receiving Social Security Disability benefits – can meet with a tax division representative for assistance to file for the Senior Freeze, Anchor and Stay NJ program. This filing session will focus on the blue 2025 Form PAS-1 booklet you received in the mail.
Please bring the following items: photo ID, Social Security number, income documentation and property tax totals billed for both 2024 and 2025. No appointments are necessary, but the session is first-come, first-served. You do not need to be a Voorhees resident.
Boardwalk fun
The township is once again partnering with Morey’s Piers to offer discounted tickets for its amusement piers on the Wildwood boardwalk. Tickets can be obtained in person from the office of the township clerk at (856) 429-7757, and are payable by cash only. Tickets are also available to residents and non-residents. For more information, contact the above number.
