H.R. No. 3235
R E S O L U T I O N
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