Chris Pappas: “Mr. Speaker, ``Juneteenth'' has long been recognized as the date to celebrate the end of slavery in the United States. I…”

“Mr. Speaker, ``Juneteenth'' has long been recognized as the date to celebrate the end of slavery in the United States. I congratulate my friend and the distinguished gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts], for introducing this resolution to underscore the importance of that development for our Nation. Juneteenth is the traditional celebration of the day on which the last slaves in America were freed. Although slavery was officially abolished in 1863, it took over two years for news of freedom to spread to all slaves. On June 19, 1865, U.S. General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas and announced that the State's 200,000 slaves were free. To make the date unforgettable, the former slaves coined the nickname ``Juneteenth,'' mixing the word ``June'' and ``nineteenth.'' This holiday originated in the Southwest, but today it is celebrated throughout the Nation. The celebration of Juneteenth provides an opportunity for all Americans to learn more about our common past and to better understand the experiences that have shaped our Nation.”