On June 19, 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger announced to the people of Texas that all slaves were freed. (Juneteenth.com) Texas made Juneteenth a State holiday in 1980, with many others following its lead; in 2022, South Dakota became the final State in the Union to declare Juneteenth a State holiday. On June 17, 2021, President Biden signed the bill into law, making Juneteenth the 11th national holiday. H&C observes the county, state, and national holiday as well. Resources & Bibliography:Juneteenth.com | HistoryBritannica.com | JuneteenthHistory.com | Thirteenth AmendmentHistory.com | Abolition of Slavery Announced in Texas on JuneteenthPBS.org | Juneteenth is now a national holiday.

Source: New York Times June 19, 2023 13:30 UTC