Placing June 19th at the same level of other important milestones of American history. Galveston, Texas-When General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19th, 1865 and declares an end to slavery, enslaved people already knew that enslavement had ended, contrary to popular lore. But it would take more than a century for the nation to formally recognize that monumentous date.                 The birthplace of this holiday sits on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico about 50 miles from Houston. That's where Union General Granger issued five orders to the citizens of Galveston. The most significant of them was General Order #3, which ended the enslavement of Black people in Texas. Granger issued this order a full two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed-making enslaved people in  Texas victims of a practice outlawed in the rest of the nation. The newly freed black people of Galveston began to use June 19th a year later as a day to honor and celebrate their freedom. As they migrated to the surrounding states and across the country, they continued to commemorate that date with celebrations in their new homes.                                     In the 60's, Texas' first Black High School, Central, served as a hub for Black students across various states. Central was the first Black High School and people from Louisiana, Oklahoma, and other states sent their kids to Galveston. Central High has been closed since 1968.                                                              Seventy five percent of the thousands of the soldiers that came into Texas were United States Colored Troops. Following the Emancipation Proclamation, the military formed the United States Colored Troops. More than 186,000 Black Americans joined the U.S. armed forces, including an estimated 93,542 soldiers who were formerly enslaved people.                 The last battle of the Civil War here in Galveston was January 1st, 1863 and the Confederates won. They ousted the Union Control. So they were still in charge in 1865. In April of 2022, a 5,000-square foot mural, entitled "Absolute Equality" was completed in downtown Galveston in the same location where Granger issued general order #3.  General Order #3 includes in the second sentence, this involves an absolute equality, so we're still on a march forward for Absolute Equality.