CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — Plans are underway for speakers and a major celebration for June 19 and 20 as Chambersburg celebrates Juneteenth.
Events will be from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, June 19, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, all at the Spring Street Amphitheater. Plans call for speakers, entertainers, vendors, food trucks, children’s activities and more.
What should we know about Juneteenth? Organizers suggested the words of author Denise Gray-Dupree of Birmingham, Alabama, who wrote, “Juneteenth is a day to remember, celebrate, and teach. As a descendant of slaves, I know June 19, 1865, was an answer to prayer for some of our enslaved ancestors. Freedom had finally come.
“Today, as a Black writer, I believe Juneteenth is a day to inform others about the historical significance of what happened that Monday in Galveston, Texas. This national holiday should serve as a teaching moment about the true history of slavery and its complicated end in America. In light of current attempts to edit Black history, Juneteenth is a day to inspire all generations to understand, honor, and protect our heritage.”
