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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration Foundation |
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| 6 | 7 | | is hosting its 2021 Juneteenth Celebration from June 14 to 19, 2021; |
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| 7 | 8 | | and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, In 2002, city council member Don Smith enlisted |
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| 9 | 10 | | residents, local businesses, and civic leaders in the effort to |
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| 10 | 11 | | develop an event highlighting the profound historical importance of |
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| 11 | 12 | | the Emancipation Proclamation; the Missouri City Juneteenth |
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| 12 | 13 | | Celebration Foundation was established with the goals of organizing |
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| 13 | 14 | | culturally relevant activities, creating programs to nurture young |
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| 14 | 15 | | talent, and bringing together families from all backgrounds in a |
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| 15 | 16 | | wholesome and inspiring setting; and |
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| 16 | 17 | | WHEREAS, The Emancipation Proclamation was promulgated on |
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| 17 | 18 | | January 1, 1863, but it could not be enforced in Texas until after |
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| 18 | 19 | | the Civil War; on June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger of the |
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| 19 | 20 | | Union Army arrived in Galveston and that same day issued General |
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| 20 | 21 | | Order No. 3, declaring the freedom of all those held in bondage; |
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| 21 | 22 | | emancipated men and women marked the first anniversary of this date |
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| 22 | 23 | | in 1866, and over the years, Juneteenth became a proud celebration |
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| 23 | 24 | | of a momentous milestone in this nation's history; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, African Americans who moved away from Texas took the |
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| 25 | 26 | | Juneteenth tradition with them, and it was embraced nationally; in |
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| 26 | 27 | | 1979, Texas became the first state to make the celebration an |
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| 27 | 28 | | official holiday; today, Missouri City's Juneteenth program has |
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| 28 | 29 | | grown to encompass a wide variety of activities, including a |
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| 29 | 30 | | kick-off reception, a parade, a community service awards gala, and |
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| 30 | 31 | | a golf tournament as well as musical performances; the Freedom |
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| 31 | 32 | | Tree, located in Freedom Tree Park, serves as a focal point and |
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| 32 | 33 | | symbol of African American resilience; and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, The much-anticipated Juneteenth celebration in |
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| 34 | 35 | | Missouri City provides a fitting opportunity to reflect on African |
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| 35 | 36 | | Americans' long road to freedom and to recognize their immeasurable |
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| 36 | 37 | | contributions to the building of this country over the centuries; |
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| 37 | 38 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 38 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That the 2021 Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration |
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| 39 | 40 | | be commemorated and that all those participating be extended |
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| 40 | 41 | | sincere best wishes for a memorable and meaningful event. |
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