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Monday marked the official observation of America’s second Independence Day, Juneteenth.

Juneteenth commemorates the anniversary of the order issued by Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for enslaved Black people in Texas, who were among the last to know about the institution’s abolishment.

The festivities got underway two days early in Clark County.

The Winchester Black History and Heritage Committee held a community-wide celebration Saturday at Heritage Park complete with food, fun, music and solemn words about the day’s meaning from the event’s featured speaker, Reverend Dr. James Thurman.

“Juneteenth, as celebrated today by African-Americans, serves two purposes: it brings families together to celebrate our heritage and demonstrates our resolve to never go back,” said Thurman.

Thurman remarked that he is often asked, what is so important about June 19?

“I would ask you what is so important about July 4?” he posed. “Most people would respond, ‘That is Independence Day. That is the day we declared our independence from Great Britain.’ That is recorded in all the history books and taught in every public and private school in America. Unfortunately, while certain individuals could declare their independence and freedom from British tyranny and colonialism, that was not so for Africans brought here and enslaved as beasts of burden.”

Thurman noted that it took almost a century for enslaved Blacks to be freed through the Emancipation Proclamation and then the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which officially outlawed slavery.

Kentucky initially rejected the 13th Amendment and the following 14th and 15th Amendments, which granted Blacks citizenship and the right to vote, respectively, and did not formally adopt them until 1976.

Returning to his original point, Thurman said Juneteenth is important for two distinct and important reasons.

“First, it adds truth to the American myth that as African-Americans we were free on July 4, 1776…Secondly, Juneteenth is important because it causes one to do research into America’s past and helps truthfully bring us into the present,” Thurman said.

Joyce Morton, the history and heritage committee’s vice president, was thankful for Thurman’s history lesson.

“I was glad people came out to hear it,” said Morton.

She recalled that she never found any information in school books when she was young and was unaware of Juneteenth’s significance until the history and heritage committee was formed.

“They need to talk about it in high schools,” Morton said. “We didn’t know Kentucky refused to be a part of it.”

And while Juneteenth was traditionally a holiday celebrated by the Black community, there is hope that it will come to mean something to all Americans.

“Juneteenth matters for everyone because just as we celebrate the Fourth of July for the United States…It is something to celebrate. We all have freedoms, we all live together and we are free together,” said committee member Narcissus Burnam.

Morton said that the event serves as a reminder that Black Americans got past slavery and of something equally essential.

“Everybody here is a part of it. It is not just one race; it took all of us working together. If I’m not free, then none of us are free,” Morton said.

And with high hopes for the future, the committee wants to see the celebration grow.

“One day, we want to have the whole of Washington Street over by Heritage Park shut down. We want to be able to celebrate just like Independence Day with concerts, Mr. and Mrs. Juneteenth, little Mr. and Ms. Juneteenth, and community activities where families can set up for their families and cook for them and have fellowship,” Burnam said.