June 19, 1865 — a day etched in the heart of American history. It was on this day that Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with life-changing news: slavery had ended, and freedom had arrived. This was more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed. The day became known as Juneteenth, short for June Nineteenth — now celebrated as America’s second Independence Day.
It wasn’t until 2021 that Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday, but it has long been a powerful symbol of delayed freedom and undying resilience. Also known as Freedom Day, it reminds us not just of what was gained, but of the long road we walked to get there.
