JUNETEENTH is Friday. But…Why is Virginia and DC Celebrating a “Born in Texas” Holiday?

by STEVE SPACEK

June 17, 2026

Washington DC area resident, Texas Native

Virginia, the northernmost 'Old South' State and a cradle of the 1861-65 Confederacy, has somehow, for at least a few recent years [prior to 2020], made a note to itself to "sorta notice" Juneteenth, the oldest known commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. That action was just to typically issue a little, publicly noticed annual proclamation, as also practiced by many of neighbor 'Southern' regimes to the south and west. Yet similar actions did not take place by "yankee" governments north of the Potomac, the Ohio River and the Far West.

The celebration now holiday had roots over 1, 200 miles away in Galveston, then the second largest city in Texas, the westernmost part of the Old South. Texas and 11 other governments were embracers of a Confederate way of life that Virginia helped start, developed over 400 years earlier, with a star attraction: the ‘peculiar institution,” of non- white human slavery.

In 2003 the Washington D.C City Council c0ncurred on a bill, approved by Capitol Hill lawmakers, signed by then Mayor Anthony Williams, proclaiming June 19 to be an official holiday for the District, commemorating America's ending of illegal bondages between slaves and their masters. Seventeen years later, former Governor Ralph Northam announced Juneteenth would become a permanent paid Commonwealth day off. A year later President Joe Biden's penmanship made June 19 a Federal Holiday. All States, Territories and the District of Columbia could now officially recognize, party on.

However, before all these actions....

There was ---June 19, 1980. Texas!--the state won from the hard fighting efforts of Virginia-born Sam Houston and his Texian Army against the Republic of Mexico’s murderous government-- became the first in America and the South with the legislative courage to make Juneteenth an official holiday for governance--a day all Texans could enjoy!

The partying and recognition of slavery's final days started almost immediately in Texas--over a century, plus decades added, before non-Texan Americans thought such recognition was remotely worthwhile. 2,500 Union troops arrived at Galveston [With approximately 7,000 residents Galveston was Texas’ second largest city in 1865. Only San Antonio’s was larger, with its 8,200 population]. U.S. General Gordon Granger read out General Orders Number Three (3) to those gathered around: “The People of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive [Abraham Lincoln] of the United States, all slaves are free!” Henceforth, more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the Lone Star State were free, excitedly calling the day "Juneteenth."

I am glad Virginia, the other 11 "Old South" States, The District and—and now, the ENTIRE NATION! has woke up to the importance of June 19! All Americans are now hearing those voices from long ago, maybe understanding a celebratory feeling--the "we wont forget what slavery did to us!"-- kind of happiness coming from 'loud and proud FREE Texans" shut out from national discourse FOR MUCH TOO LONG!!