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Governor Culver Proclaims Iowa Juneteenth
Observance
P R O C L A M A T I O N
| WHEREAS, |
THE EMANCIPATION
PROCLAMATION WAS ISSUED ON JANUARY 1, 1863 WITH THE
INTENT OF PURSUING THE FREEDOM OF MANY OF THE MEN,
WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF AFRICAN DESCENT VICTIMIZED BY
THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY; AND |
| WHEREAS, |
THE GREAT CIVIL WAR
CAME TO AN END IN APRIL OF 1865, WHILE SLAVES
REMAINED IN CAPTIVITY IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE
NATION, GALVESTON, TEXAS BEING THE LAST GREAT
BASTION OF SLAVERY; AND |
| WHEREAS, |
GENERAL GORDON
GRANGER LED UNION TROOPS TO GALVESTON, TEXAS AND
READ “GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 3” WHICH ENDED SLAVERY IN
ITS LAST STRONGHOLD ON JUNE 19, 1865. JUNE 19 BECAME
KNOWN AS “JUNETEENTH” BY THE FORMER SLAVES AND IS
ANNUALLY CELEBRATED ON AN INTERNATIONAL BASIS; AND |
| WHEREAS, |
THE “IOWA JUNETEENTH
OBSERVANCE” WAS FOUNDED BY THE CONNECT FOUNDATION TO
EDUCATE ALL IOWANS ON THE PURPOSE OF JUNETEENTH AND
TO FOCUS ON THE ECONOMIC, POLITICAL AND SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS FOLLOWING SLAVERY;
AND |
| WHEREAS, |
THIS YEAR MARKS THE
7TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAW DESIGNATING JUNETEENTH AS
AN OFFICIAL OBSERVANCE IN IOWA; AND |
| WHEREAS, |
AFRICAN-AMERICANS
PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN SHAPING IOWA’S HISTORY
AND CONTINUE TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL
CITIZENS. IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT ALL CITIZENS OF
IOWA GATHER AT JUNETEENTH OBSERVANCES IN CHURCHES,
RECREATION AREAS, SCHOOLS AND OTHER DESIGNATED
LOCATIONS ACROSS THE STATE TO CELEBRATE FREEDOM: |
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NOW, THEREFORE, I,
CHESTER J. CULVER, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF IOWA, DO
HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 19, 2010, AS THE OFFICIAL
OBSERVANCE OF JUNETEENTH
IN IOWA. |
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