Remembering and Honoring Our Enslaved Ancestors: Juneteenth 2015 Souvenir Book & Photo Gallery

By Yolanda Wright Bozant

History books teach that the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863. However, those books make no mention that 250,000 Texas slaves were not freed until two and a half years later -- on June 19, 1865. Union soldiers sailed into Galveston, announced the end of the Civil War, read an order declaring slaves residing in Texas were free, and threatened slaveholders with imprisonment. It was a day of celebration. The freed slaves danced in the streets. Having had no access to formal education, June 19, 1865 became known to the freed slaves as "Juneteenth." Each year the freed slaves celebrated the end of slavery. June 19, 2015 marked the 150th anniversary of Juneteenth as well as the official end of slavery in the United States. Hundreds of descendants of the former slaves who gained their freedom on Juneteenth returned to Geneva, Texas on Saturday, June 20, 2015 in remembrance and honor of those who created a legacy in the face of adversity, most of whom are buried in the three community cemeteries: County Line Cemetery, Dennis Cemetery, and New Zion Cemetery.Our ancestors gave us a gift that has been shared with each generation. They impressed upon us that we each were someone special. They showed us that through God, all things are possible if we have patience, continue to work hard, survive the rough times, benefit from others' wisdom, and maintain a passion for knowledge. On Saturday, June 20, 2015, we gathered before God to testify that our ancestors have done their job. Each generation developed their gift from God - their children - to the best of their potential. Our gift to them is the assurance that we give to our children the same sense of destiny that they have provided and nurtured in each of us.We are the proof of the enormous strength of our ancestors. Even in their time of greatest need, they still thought of us and persevered through a lifetime of bitter slavery so that their descendants might one day enjoy the sweet taste of freedom.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1514328410
• ISBN13: 9781514328415
• Release Date: July 2015
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.0" x 0.2" x 8.5"