with Gloria Holiday
Greetings from the City. Every week, it is a blessing to be with you. You may be reading this paper at your kitchen table, at work, out of state or overseas while serving the country. Wherever you are, I would like to say, “Thank You.” Remember this is the day the Lord has made; enjoy it.
Just a reminder that Father’s Day is Sunday, June 21. It is now time to start looking for something special for your dad. To all of the fathers out there, I hope you have a wonderful Father’s Day. Happy Father’s Day from the City!
Sunday, June 14, was Flag Day. Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the U.S. flag on June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. Flag Day is a day for honoring the flag and what it stands for. It is the symbol of our great nation. It has flown in good times and bad. It has flown during peace time and war. It is an enduring symbol of freedom expressed all around the world. The flag looked beautiful in the blue sky as the Fire Department raised it up high. Chris Dunbar, Commander for American Legion Post 157, did an outstanding job celebrating Flag Day! Boy Scouts Troop 25 was also there to help out with the Retirement Flag Day ceremony. The U.S. Army also celebrated their 245th birthday on June 14. Happy Birthday!
Well, the rain has gone for a while, and the sun is out. The temperatures have been from 90-95 degrees, and guess what? Summer will arrive on June 21. How HOT will it get this year? However, we do welcome the summer season.
I have a brief history I want to share. Many black Americans will commemorate an important day in our nation’s history this Friday – a day that many other Americans have never heard of. It is called Juneteenth.
On June 19, 1865, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger and his soldiers went to Galveston, Texas, to spread the word that slavery had ended. Many of the nearly 250,000 slaves in the South did not know that they were officially freed on Jan. 1, 1863. The news inspired celebrations among the newly freed black Americans and resulted in the establishment of a spontaneous holiday on June 19, 1865 – Juneteenth. Although considered an official holiday in Texas since 1980, Juneteenth still goes largely unrecognized by our country as a whole. That is too bad.
On Friday, June 19, we want you to come out to help celebrate JUNETEENTH from 5-9 p.m. at the Old Vincent High School, 186 Luray Ave, Henderson (North Chester County Alternative School). There will be a Meet and Greet of local candidates running for official office. There will be Q/A time for the candidates and booths for voter registrations. The program is sponsored by Oasis CDC and Concerned Citizens of Chester/Henderson Community. It is a FREE event! Refreshments will be served. For more information, call Rev. Flowers, 608-2222; Elder Frank Holiday, 608-2846; Mr. Fitzgerald Steward, 731-803-6947; Ms. Sylvia Flowers, 608-0835; or Ms. Gloria Holiday, 608-6132. Do not miss this great event. Come one! Come all!
The City would like to say Happy Birthday to Brian Signaigo. He celebrated his birthday on June 12. Shirley Wilson is sending out birthday wishes to her husband Jerry Wilson on June 20 and also to her niece Trear Gilbert on June 20. Let us not forget to wish Ms. Shirley Wilson a happy birthday on June 16. To my sweet little cousin Zelmar Bass, happy birthday on June 19. We pray the Lord will bless you all to have many more birthdays.
On our prayer request list this week: Mrs. Betty Bass Williams, Mr. Donald Trump and Mr. Jimmy Ruth; continue to pray for people who are in the hospitals, for the ones who are sick in their homes, for our children, teachers and families, for the men and women who are serving our country and for the incarcerated.
Remember to patronize with our local businesses here in town; let us try to support our own as much as we can. If you live in the City of Henderson and have news about your families, birthdays, anniversaries, announcements or things happening in the City, I need to HEAR from you. Call me at 989-1907/608-6132 and leave your message, or you may email me at gloria_holiday@msn.com.HAVE A GREAT WEEK!
