Juneteenth commemorated at historic St. Paul's Church in Mount Vernon

Staff reports
Updated ·1 min read
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The historic St. Paul's Church in Mount Vernon commemorated Juneteenth on Monday with songs of the Civil War era, a reading of the original proclamation declaring the end of slavery in Texas, and the laying of wreaths at the graves of two Black soldiers who served in the Union Army.

McKenzie Massay, 6, of Mount Vernon listens to spiritual songs being sung during ÒA Celebration of JuneteenthÓ at St. PaulÕs Church National Historic Site in Mount Vernon June 19, 2023. Juneteenth is the federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. The ceremony at St. PaulÕs Church included a sing-a-long, performances by flutist Eric Thomas, bass baritone singer Ronald Campbell, the gospel choir of the Greater Centennial A.M.E. Zion Church in Mount Vernon, an address by Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, and the reading of the original proclamation declaring the end of slavery in Texas.

St. Paul's joined churches and communities across the country in marking Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, which became a federal holiday in 2021 and is a state holiday in at least 28 states, including New York. Juneteenth celebrates the date, June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, then the westernmost part of the country, learned of their freedom, over two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

St. Paul's Church, a U.S. National Historic Site, is one of the oldest churches in New York, its parish having been founded in 1665.

Volunteer Bryan Santiago gives a tour of the Revolutionary War era cemetery at St. PaulÕs Church National Historic Site in Mount Vernon during ÒA Celebration of JuneteenthÓ at June 19, 2023. The ceremony included performances by bass baritone singer Ronald Campbell, flutist Eric Howard, the gospel choir of the Greater Centennial A.M.E. Zion Church in Mount Vernon, an address by Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, and the reading of the original proclamation declaring the end of slavery in Texas. Juneteenth is the federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.

Monday's program began with a presentation about medicine and surgery during the Civil War, followed by a singalong of Civil War-era songs, with historical commentary. Inside the church, there was a reading of the text of the proclamation declaring the end of slavery that was delivered in Galveston on June, 19, 1865, and a performance by the gospel choir of the Greater Centennial A.M.E. Zion Church of Mount Vernon.

There was also a walk in the church's cemetery, where wreaths were laid at the graves of two Black soldiers who served in Union Army regiments stationed in Texas in June of 1865.  They were Private George Carter of the 10th U.S.C.T. and Private John Bird of the 117th U.S.C.T.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Historic St. Paul's Church in Mount Vernon NY observes Juneteenth