H.R. No. 1699
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration Foundation
(MCJCF) is commemorating Juneteenth, the historic date that
signifies the end of slavery in Texas, with five days of
family-oriented events; and
WHEREAS, Although the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by
President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, formally outlawed
slavery in areas of the country that were still in rebellion, true
emancipation was not achieved in the South until the end of the
Civil War, when Union troops brought enforcement of the decree to
the states of the Confederacy; on June 19, 1865, two months after
the war ended, Major General Gordon Granger of the Union Army
arrived in Galveston and issued General Order Number 3, informing
the people of Texas that all slaves were now free; and
WHEREAS, Compliance with the order on the part of slave
owners was often slow, and it would take months before all of those
held in bondage would obtain their freedom; by the end of the year,
however, the approximately 250,000 men, women, and children in
Texas who had been enslaved were beginning new lives as free
citizens; the shock that many of them felt upon first learning of
their freedom quickly turned to jubilation, and they continued to
express their joy and reverence for this momentous day with
celebrations in the years following the Civil War; and
WHEREAS, With their newfound freedom, many slaves
immediately left their former owners and struck out in search of
opportunity and a chance to use their talents as they saw fit; free
to travel, many began searching for the family members that had been
taken from them; they also formed communities, schools, and
churches, creating institutions and networks that would sustain
them through the difficult years ahead; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth festivities became a vital part of
African American culture, and entire communities began to
commemorate June 19, 1865, and the pivotal role it played in our
state's history; an annual remembrance of the slaves' long-awaited
release from bondage, it became a time when families would put on
their finest clothes and gather to enjoy food, parades, and other
festivities, while reflecting on all that had been endured and
overcome; over the years, Texans carried the celebration of
Juneteenth with them to neighboring states, and awareness of this
historic day continues to grow throughout our country with each
passing year; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of the date's significance, the Texas
Legislature passed a bill in 1979 making Juneteenth an official
state holiday, effective January 1, 1980; and
WHEREAS, The Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration features a
series of free educational and cultural events, including a
historical reenactment, a parade, a golf tournament, a health and
wellness fair, and a musical festival; the flagship program of the
celebration is the Community Service Awards Gala and Reception,
which honors those who have made a significant contribution to Fort
Bend County and its citizens; and
WHEREAS, The Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration provides a
welcome opportunity to mark the end of slavery while paying homage
to the immeasurable legacy of the African American community in the
Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the annual Missouri City Juneteenth
Celebration and extend to the Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration
Foundation sincere best wishes for a successful event; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the foundation as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Reynolds
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1699 was adopted by the House on May
12, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House