Have a Proud Juneteenth Commemoration

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across our nation.

Today, on Juneteenth, Americans come together in remembrance, commemoration, appreciation, reconciliation, and celebration. We remember all our history. Not ignoring the parts that make us uncomfortable, we commemorate our ancestors who suffered and fought the horrific institution that was slavery. We appreciate the strength in the American spirit that was necessary to fight that evil and work to make our nation a more perfect union. We reconcile with the fact that we must continue fighting to fully realize equality for all Americans. Finally, we celebrate freedom.

On Juneteenth, we can work to understand what enslaved Black Americans went through, what their liberation meant for the country, and what that kind of progress means for us all. This sort of introspection is essential to making our nation, communities, Union, and workplaces the best they can be. Our Union embraces the Juneteenth Commemoration. On this day, we commit to continuing to work toward greater equality within our Union for all our NATCA brothers and sisters.

Have a proud Juneteenth Commemoration.