Recognizing June 19, 2021, as Juneteenth. BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
IN THE MATTER OF:
RECOGNIZING JUNE 19, 2021, AS JUNETEENTH
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
DONE IN OPEN SESSION this 15th day of June, 2021.
APPROVED AS TO FORM: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Jonathan Meyer, Prosecuting Attorney LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Kevin McDowell Gary Stamper
By: Kevin McDowell, Gary Stamper, Chair
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
ATTEST: •'•"""Tv'w.s Lindsey
• R. Pollock, DVM
�S .'RD OF'.'S''•
Rieva Lester, Clerk of the BoarcV a° 'L" tLdsey R. Pollock, DVM, Vice Chair
S',1:‘ 1%45• 2w- :. .
• �'c�°.S.•
Tamara Martin Sean D. Swope
By: Tamara Martin Sean D. Swope, Commissioner
Page 1 of 1
RECOGNIZING JUNE 19, 2021, AS
1UEN]ET]E]ENT]H[
LEWIS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WHEREAS,Juneteenth, or Juneteenth Independence Day,commemorates the traditional observance of the
end of slavery in the United States and is observed annually on June 19;and
WHEREAS, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863,declaring
that "all person held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State,the people whereof shall then
be in rebellion against the United States,shall be then,thenceforward, and forever free";and
WHEREAS, President Lincoln correctly believed slavery to be in violation of the principles of the Declaration
of Independence and determined that its abolition represented a "new birth of freedom"for the nation; and
WHEREAS, more than two years would pass before the news reached African Americans living in Texas;and
WHEREAS,on June 19, 1865, Union Mayor General Gordon Granger and his regiment arrived in Galveston,
Texas, and spread the news that slavery had been abolished; and
WHEREAS,the first official Juneteenth celebration took place in Texas the following year; and
WHEREAS,Juneteenth has been celebrated annually for more than 150 years, making it the oldest
nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery;and
WHEREAS,the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners(BOCC)wishes to acknowledge and celebrate
the significance of this celebration in African-American history and in the heritage of our nation.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the BOCC hereby recognizes Juneteenth as an important opportunity to
honor the principles of the Declaration of Independence and celebrate the achievements and contributions
African Americans have made—and continue to make—in Lewis County and across our nation.
Done in open session this 15th day of June 2021.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LEWIS COUNTY,WASHINGTON
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Gary Sta per,Chair
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ATTEST: Linds . PoI ck, DV ,Vice Chair
VIaar._ Ifi)r
R a Leste Clerk of the Board Se D.S o e, Comm loner
BOCC AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
BOCC Meeting Date: June 15, 2021
Suggested Wording for Agenda Item: Agenda Type: Proclamation
Recognizing June 19, 2021, as Juneteenth
Contact: Rieva Lester Phone:
Department: BOCC - Board of County Commissioners
Description:
Recognizing June 19, 2021, as Juneteenth
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