Dedham Celebrated its 5th Juneteenth Celebration 6/17/25

Dedham TV coverage Dedham’s 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration - click the blue to view Dedham TV coverage.

Dedham Celebrated five years of celebrating Juneteenth in Dedham and the 160th anniversary of the General Granger reading of the decree in Galveston Texas freeing all remaining slaves due to the end of the Civil War on Tuesday evening despite a little rain to the biggest turnout in the events history at the Endicott Estate in Dedham.

Organizer Dan O’Neil, opened the event with a presentation of the colors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Ma by the 54th Massachusetts, Voluntary Infantry Company A. He then welcomed us with his poem, “Juneteenth why we Celebrate” from his book, “Big Dan, A Collection of Poetry and Short Stories, People, Places and Things I love about Dedham and more.” He then followed up by reciting the original Proclamation of Juneteenth from the Select Board from 6/19/2021 that was originally read by Select Board Members Dennis Teehan Jr. and James MacDonald.

He explained how he came about starting the holiday celebration and why it was important to do it. He also dedicated the event this year to his parents Dan O’Neil Sr and Deborah O’Neil. He also gave his appreciation to those who braved the elements to join in on the festivities.

Richard Campagna of the Olde Colony Civil War Round Table was the first speaker and he shared the history of the monument at The Old Village Cemetery for dedicated to those who died at Camp Miegs. Richard is part of a group that shares Civil War history monthly at Endicott Estate.

Next, we had local musician and actor, our very own Joe Rich who portrayed Abraham Lincoln and recited the Emancipation Proclamation. He was followed by another local actor from Randolph, Reggie Joseph who portrayed Frederick Douglass and recited the speech, “The Black Man and The War.” Which can be found in the book, “Frederick Douglass in Brooklyn.”

Sgt Emmett Bell-Sykes of the 54th spoke next and recited the original decree read by General Granger on 6/19/1865 that officially ended the Civil War and freed every remaining enslaved person. He followed up with a short history of the regiment and then a rifle volley with fellow 54th Member Dane Elliot-Lewis in honor of everyone who fought for and died for freedom for the Union Army in the Civil War.

Entertainment was provided by Band Together School of Music Performance of Walpole following the ceremony and vendor tables were available for viewing by the Hyde Park Historical Society and the Old Colony Civil War Round Table with great local history and artifacts on display. Light refreshments including red foods such as red velvet cupcakes and strawberry soda were enjoyed by all.

A letter of thanks from Dan O’Neil is shared below about his feelings on the event.

“I want to take the time to thank everyone involved in the success of this year’s 5th annual Juneteenth Celebration in Dedham. Thanks to Erin and the wonderful staff at the Endicott Estate for their kindness in helping us by allowing us to use the property, I want to thank my very good friends, gentleman who I am very fond of and I consider custodians of history, The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Company A who attend our event every year and enjoy coming and sharing history with our community.

I want to thank Joe Rich, who was an amazing Abraham Lincoln and Reggie Joseph who was equally terrific portraying Frederick Douglass, reciting the Gettysburg address and the Black Man and the War respectively. I want to thank Richard Campagna, of the Olde Colony Civil War Round Table for speaking about the monument in the Old Village Cemetery dedicated to all who had died at Camp Miegs and to his fellow members who had display tables of Civil War Artifacts. I want to thank Vicki Gall of the Hyde Park Historical Society who also had a table with great information about local Civil War History.

I thank Dedham TV for their wonderful coverage of the events which they do every year and are always so helpful and Band Together School of Performance from Walpole for their excellent Motown and oldies selections they played for us. Donna Meana from Big Bear Café who provided coffee for the event and last but certainly not least our community for braving the elements and coming out for such an important holiday celebration.

This year I dedicated this event to my parents. They have been with me since day one. They went through this with me. A lot of times it was hard, especially the first two years because the town had no event planned for the town itself. I grew up here and always saw how hard everyone worked to make our holidays in Dedham matter and make them special and made sure everything possible was done to embrace them.

That is exactly how I approached it. I learned what this holiday truly meant and represented in college. I was so excited when in 2021 it was finally going to be a state and later a Federal Holiday. I did a lot of research on ways to celebrate and even made sure I incorporated red foods into the refreshment I served every year. I may not fit what some in town would consider great optics for someone who wants to make Juneteenth special for my town, but I do. The day is special to me. Celebrating its history and educating folks on why we celebrate and why it’s important to celebrate freedom needs to be embraced because it does matter.

I do my event a little differently every year. Whether that means I have Brian Keaney talk about the William Gould history and project, or Justin Schlesinger come and talk about our shared ancestor Calvin Fairbank who was an abolitionist, or invite Reverend Steven Craft to give a sermon the second year or have my friend Bill Raynor come talk about his life story and his book, “Why Black Men Nod at Each Other” last year. Every year has its own identity and its own vibe but always has the same message. The message of Freedom which is what this day represents.

I spoke last year, and I said that I saw Juneteenth as the starting line for Freedom for all and as a multi time Boston Marathoner I likened the day to the starting line at Hopkinton. I feel as a nation we have come a long way; we have a lot of history that wasn’t always great and created a struggle, Jim Crow, The Black Man’s suffrage movement, the woman’s suffrage movement, segregation, the civil rights movement to say a few. The difference is as a young nation and at not quite 250 we need to remember we are still that. I feel not only as in issues of race but in the ways, we treat people in general and the way I see it we are at about Cleveland Circle. We have come a lot of miles, and we can see that Citgo sign but that right on Hereford and that left on Boylston is still miles away.

I hope in my lifetime I can see the day that as a nation, as a community and as friends and neighbors we can see that finish line where mutual respect can replace all of these biases and unkindness. That would be a very cool finish line to see and to cross.

Thank you

Dan O’Neil, Commissioner for Trust Funds”