Vienna's Liberty Amendments Month To Kick Off With Juneteenth

VIENNA, VA — The Town of Vienna will commemorate its second annual Liberty Amendments Month, a month-long observance with events, starting with Juneteenth weekend.

Liberty Amendments Month was started by Town Manager Mercury Payton to recognize several Constitutional amendments that gave rights to people previously excluded. The 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments are known as the Civil War Amendments as they extended rights to recently emancipated slaves. The 13th Amendment in 1865 abolished slavery; the 14th Amendment in 1868 granted citizenship to anyone born or naturalized in the U.S. and reaffirmed the right to due process, life, liberty, and property; and the 15th Amendment in 1870 protected the right to vote for people regardless of race, color, or past servitude. The 19th Amendment in 1920, which extended the right to vote to women, is also included in the Liberty Amendments.

The month-long event from June 18 to July 19 dedicates a week to each of the Liberty Amendments. Events kick off with a Juneteenth Celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 18 at First Baptist Church, 450 Orchard Street NW, Vienna. Juneteenth is a state and federal holiday recognizing the end of slavery in the United States. Vienna's event will feature musical and cultural performances, a classic car and truck show, vendors, food trucks and more.

As the Juneteenth holiday falls on a Sunday, the observed holiday is Monday, June 20. Town of Vienna offices will be closed on June 20 for Juneteenth and Liberty Amendments Day.

Ongoing events for Liberty Amendments Month for Juneteenth will include kids events at 10 a.m. Tuesdays on the Town Green, keynote and educational events at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Vienna Community Center. On Saturdays, Liberty Amendments Month mini-fests will be held from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. The town's Independence Day fireworks event is included in the festivities from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 1 at Yeonas Park.

Other in-person and virtual events will be held at various times. Click on each link to see events for each amendment: 13th Amendment from June 19 to 25, 14th Amendment from June 26 to July 2, 15th Amendment from July 3 to 9 and 19th Amendment from July 10 to 19.