Flag Raising

Wentworth Cheswill was an American Revolutionary War patriot, educator, and the first Black person elected to public office in the United States. Often recognized as the "Black Paul Revere," Cheswill rode alongside Revere in 1774 to warn of British warships and completed his own daring midnight ride in 1775. He was born on April 11, 1746, to a biracial father, Hopestill Cheswell (sometimes spelled Cheswill), and Katherine Keniston, who was white. Hopestill was the son of a white woman and an enslaved black man, Richard Cheswell. Under the laws of the day, Hopestill’s status followed his mother, making him free.

Salem Poor was enslaved purchased his freedom in 1769 one of the most celebrated Black heroes of the American Revolution. Known for his extraordinary valor at the Battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775), he single-handedly rallied troops and mortally wounded British Commander. Following the battle 14 white officers wrote: “…:The subscribers beg leave to report to your Honorable House (which we do in justice to the character of so brave a man), that, under our own observation, we declare that a negro man, called Salem Poor, of Col. Frye’s regiment, Capt. Ames’ company, in the late battle at Charlestown, behaved like an experienced officer, as well as an excellent soldier. To set forth particulars of his conduct would be tedious. We would beg leave to say, in the person of this said negro, centers a brave and gallant soldier. The reward due to so great and distinguished a character, we submit to the Congress.”

JUNETEENTH LOUDOUN FLAG RAISING CEREMONY

Call to Order  Charles Avery President Loudoun Douglass Alumni Association 

Opening Prayer    Clergy

Raising of the U.S. and Juneteenth Flags        U.S.C.T.

National Anthem \Lift Every Voice Medley    by Rev. Ronald V. Myers Sr. MD

Welcome Kelly Burk, Mayor, Leesburg

Reading of the:

Emancipation Proclamation  Jaxson Roberts, J.L. Simpson Middle School

13th Amendment   Kristen Umstattd, Leesburg Supervisor

Reading of the General Order #3     Ed Gantt U.S.C.T. 

A Juneteenth Story – Janice Jennings, Former School teacher/Asst. Principal            

“It was the United States Colored Troops (USCT), who leaving from City Port, VA (present-day Hopewell, VA) as a "Show of Force" along the Texas\Mexico border to France's Maximilian, ran into a storm in the Gulf of Mexico and were forced to land at Galveston, TX on June 19, 1865. Over 4,000 USCT bivouac on the island that day, and brought realization to the rumors of freedom to those still enslaved, while General Order #3 was posted on the door of the Colored church (present-day Reedy Chapel) informing all of their Absolute Equality

Guest Speaker                                          Congressman        Suhas Subramanyam

Veteran Honoree  Sterling Cook

Keynote Speaker Steven Williams, President, National Juneteenth Observance Foundation  

Genesis of the Emancipation Proclamation

Frank Baker, James Townsend, and Sheppard Mallory had been leased by their so-called masters to the Confederate Army. They escaped at night to Old Point Comfort, VA Ft. Monroe for freedom. When a Confederate officer requested their return, the request was refused. The Union would no longer return escaped enslaved people but rather classify them as “Contraband of War” since the Confederates had left the Union. The word spread quickly among the enslaved people and these contraband camps developed around Union-held Forts and camps.  After the Emancipation Proclamation and the authorization of black military units, thousands of formerly enslaved and free blacks began to enlist in the United States Colored Troops (USCT). The Army allowed their families to take refuge at contraband camps. By the end of the war, more than 100 contraband camps had been developed in the South.  Missionary teachers recruited from the free states, together with free blacks and freedmen, agreed that the education of the formerly enslaved was of the highest priority.

Exodus from Chattel Slavery

"Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship." -Fredrick Douglas.  As the war raged on the USCT’s impact on the effort increased, finally it was USCT that trapped General Lee at Appomattox.  With America in confusion over the war and an assassinated president, Maximilian was going to invade Texas. (Same Maximilian as Cinco De Mayo)

It was the United States Colored Troops (USCT), who leaving from City Port, VA (present-day Hopewell, VA) as a "Show of Force" along the Texas\Mexico border to France's Maximilian, that ran into a storm in the Gulf of Mexico and were forced to land at Galveston, TX on June 19, 1865. Over 3,000 USCT bivouac on the island that day and brought reality to the rumors of freedom to those still enslaved, while General Order #3 was posted on the door of the Colored church (present-day Reedy Chapel) informing all of their Absolute Equality. This is Juneteenth.

Revelation – Juneteenth as a National Holiday

The “Modern Juneteenth Movement” began when a group of Juneteenth leaders from across the country gathered in New Orleans, LA, at Christian Unity Baptist Church, to work for greater national recognition of Juneteenth. Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D was named Chairman of the NJOF and brought Juneteenth legislation to 43 states and Washington D.C. paving the way for Juneteenth to be recognized. The NJOF continued to advocate for Juneteenth using the tactics and techniques “Doc Myers” passed along.  Which culminated the Congress passing the Juneteenth National Independence Day Bill on June 17, 2021.