PHILADELPHIA –
Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support partnered with the Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support to celebrate Juneteenth during an event June 18. Dr. Ashley Jordan, president, and CEO of the African American Museum in Philadelphia, served as the keynote speaker, highlighting the theme “Opportunity Freedom Celebrated.”
On June 19, 1865, freedom finally came for the 250,000 enslaved people of Texas, according to this year’s presidential proclamation for Juneteenth National Independence Day. Two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring "that all persons held as slaves are, and henceforward shall be free."
“We haven’t always told history in its entirety,” Jordan said. “It wasn’t until 2021 that President Biden recognized it as a federal holiday. Though the celebration started in Texas in 1865, overtime it began spreading coast to coast.
“Recognized as the second Independence Day in the country, it wasn’t until 1900 that celebrations took shape in different ways. People came together for parades, picnics, family reunions and cookouts,” Jordan continued.
Jordan encouraged the audience to take a deeper dive into history, specifically when discussing how Juneteenth evolved as a celebration of independence around the country.
“Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and a rallying cry to embrace the full promise of American democracy for all citizens,” DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Mark T. Simerly wrote to the workforce of the holiday. “The day also reminds us of our nation’s incredible capacity to heal, hope, and emerge from our darkest moments with purpose and resolve.”
Jordan also remarked on the importance of educating future generations to make informed decisions for a more equitable future.
“My hope for the next generation is that we tell history in its entirety,” she said. “We need to discuss some topics that are tough, led by those with training in these types of conversations. I truly believe that education really does mean emancipation. The more informed our decisions are, the more educated we are about things happening in this country and we can connect with each other better.”
The holiday also highlights the strength of human resolve to work together toward a better future for all.
“Juneteenth symbolizes triumph over despair and unity of division. It is a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community to create positive change,” said DLA Troop Support Deputy Commander Kishayra Lambert. “Let us honor the bravery of those who dared to dream by recognizing that the struggle for equality is far from over and striving to work tirelessly to achieve the ultimate goal of ‘freedom for all.’”
Recently, Jordan served as the Senior Director of Development at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Ohio and was appointed to the National Museum and Library Services Board by President Biden. Jordan also has significant experience managing and leading cultural institutions focused on memorializing and celebrating the African American experience in the United States.