FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (10/2/11)
Contact: Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Chairman
National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC)
National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters (NAJJP)
662-392-2016 662-247-1471
e-mail:
JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com
web site:
www.NationalJuneteenth.com
Bishop Dave Thomas, Chairman
National Juneteenth Armed Services Commission
National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC)
907-310-1200
e-mail:
bishopthomas9@yahoo.com
web site:
www.JuneteenthAlaskaALCAN.com
Honoring African-American army engineers who built the
Alaska Alcan Highway,
ultimately ending segregation in U.S. military in
1948.
2011 Juneteenth Alaska Alcan Highway Celebration
Juneteenth Honors African American Army
Engineers Who Built the Alcan Highway
Juneteenth Movement Establishes "28th of October" as a
Significant Date for Celebrating African American Military Achievement
(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
3rd Annual
Juneteenth Alaska Alcan Highway Celebration,
October 26-30, 2011, in Delta Junction, Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska.
The celebration will include a
Wreath Laying Ceremony on the
Alcan Highway at the
Black Veterans Memorial Bridge and
Delta Junction, a
Juneteenth Military Honors Awards Reception,
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,
Delta Junction Juneteenth Jazz and Arts Festival,
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 two years ago and U.S. Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) and State Senator Bettye Davis
(D-Anchorage) joined us last year in what has become a wonderful annual tribute 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. Texas was the last state where slavery was allowed.
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
39 states and the District of Columbia. Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) co-sponsored legislation to recognize
"Juneteenth Independence Day" in the
U.S. Senate for the seventh time in 2011.
"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 Barack 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.
A Juneteenth Jazz concert will also be featured at the
Fairbanks Juneteenth Jazz and Arts Festival,
Delta Junction 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
Vonnie Gaither.
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 907-310-1200, e-mail:
BishopThomas9@yahoo.com or web site:
www.JuneteenthAlaskaALCAN.com or Dr. Myers at 662-392-2016
or 662-247-1471,
e-mail: JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com or web site:
www.NationalJuneteenth.com.
top
