Honoring African-American army engineers who built the Alaska Alcan Highway,
Juneteenth Establishes “28th of October” as a Significant Date for Celebrating African American Military Achievement
The Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D
(Delta Junction, Fairbanks & Anchorage, AK) – The Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., leader of the Campaign to Establish Juneteenth as a National Holiday Observance, will return to Alaska to join Bishop Dave Thomas, Alaska Representative of the National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC) to host the 2nd Annual Juneteenth Alaska Alcan Highway Celebration, October 27-30, 2010, in Delta Junction, Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska.
The celebration will include a Wreath Laying Ceremony on the Alcan Highway in Delta Junction, a Juneteenth Military Honors Awards Reception, honoring former World War II Alcan Highway African American Army Engineer, Elbert T. Link, at Fort Wainwright, in Fairbanks, an Alcan Highway Lecture Series on the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and University of Alaska Anchorage, a Fairbanks Juneteenth Jazz and Arts Festival, an Anchorage Juneteenth Jazz and Arts Festival and a Juneteenth Prayer Luncheon.
“The festival is dedicated to the African American army engineers who built the historic Alcan Highway during World War II and completed the Sikanni Chief River Bridge on October 28, 1942,” states Juneteenth festival host Bishop Dave Thomas, Founder & Pastor of Jesus Holy Temple in Anchorage, Alaska and Chairman of the National Juneteenth Armed Services Commission of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF). “The Modern Juneteenth Movement” is working to make the ’28th of October’ a widely celebrated historic date in America like the ’19th of June’ or Juneteenth. Governor Sean Parnell and Lt. Governor Craig Campbell celebrated with us last year in what was the beginning of a wonderful annual triibute to one of the greatest engineering achievements in American history.”
Juneteenth, or the “19th of June”, recognizes June 19, 1865, in Galveston, TX, when Union General Gordon Granger announced freedom for all slaves in the Southwest. This was the last major vestige of slavery in the United States following the end of the Civil War. This occurred more than two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln. Upon the reading of General Order #3 by General Granger, the former slaves celebrated jubilantly, establishing America’s second Independence Day Celebration and the oldest African American holiday observance.
Juneteenth is now recognized as a state holiday or state holiday observance in 36 states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Florida, Delaware, Idaho, Alaska, Iowa, California, Wyoming, Missouri, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Colorado, Arkansas, Oregon, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Virginia, Washington, Tennessee, Massachusetts, North Carolina, West Virginia, South Carolina, Vermont, Nebraska, Ohio, Kansas, Wisconsin, Indiana and Mississippi. In 2003, the District of Columbia passed legislation to recognize Juneteenth as a district holiday observance. Many more states, including Utah, Alabama, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Montana, and Maryland have recognized Juneteenth through state legislative resolutions and Gubernatorial Proclamations.
“Alaska became the 7th state to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday observance,” states Dino Allen, former NJOF board member and historic Alaska Juneteenth leader to successfully champion Alaska Juneteenth state holiday legislation in 2001. “The legislation requires the governor to issue an annual Juneteenth Proclamation in our state.”
Thousands of petitions have been forwarded to the White House urging President Obama to make Juneteenth Independence Day a National Day of Observance, like Flag Day or Patriot Day and to establish a Presidential National Juneteenth Commission. “The official recognition of Juneteenth Independence Day and the end of enslavement by state governments and congress are very significant steps in bringing healing to America from the legacy of enslavement,” states Rev., Dr. Myers, also the Founder and Director of the National Day of Reconciliation & Healing From the Legacy of Enslavement, World Day of Reconciliation & Healing From the Legacy of Enslavement and the National Juneteenth Black Holocaust “Maafa” Memorial Service during the annual WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance.
Bishop Thomas
A Juneteenth Jazz concert will also be featured at the Fairbanks Juneteenth Jazz and Arts Festival and Anchorage Juneteenth Jazz and Arts Festival during the celebration. There will also be a special Juneteenth Art Exhibit featuring the paintings of Alaska visual artist Sheila J. Hall.
As the National Juneteenth Jazz Artist, minister, physician and jazz musician, Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., performs across the country promoting “June Is Black Music Month!” – CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH JAZZ – Preserving Our African American Jazz Legacy!” Founder of the National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters (NAJJP), Myers also conducts youth jazz workshops and lectures on African American jazz legacy. The NAJJP is the sponsor of several Juneteenth Jazz Legacy Concerts and African American Art Exhibits during Black Music Month, including the historic African-American jazz legacy cities of Kansas City, MO and Omaha, NB.
For more information and a Schedule of Events, contact Bishop Dave Thomas at 907-575-8506, e-mail: BishopThomas9@yahoo.com or web site: www.JuneteenthAlaskaALCAN.com or Dr. Myers at 662-247-3364 or 662-247-1471, e-mail: JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com or web sites: www.NationalJuneteenth.com, www.Juneteenth.us, www.19thofJune.com or www.JuneteenthJazz.com.