Development Team Marches Joyfully in Observance of Juneteenth

The Pittsburgh Penguins had a beautiful float in the Saturday morning, Juneteenth Parade, upon which young people rode in celebration. The Pens’ Delvina Morrow was present on the float that accompanied city-goers in a march from the Hill's, Freedom Corner, to Point State Park in celebration of Juneteenth, a national holiday marking the end of slavery in America. The observance commemorates  - June 19, 1865 - when the Union army arrived in Galveston, Texas, to free the slaves in the last state where they were permitted to be held. The Grand Jubilee Juneteenth Parade wound through the Hill and Downtown where musicians performed. Among the marchers were Masons, academic groups, horse-drawn carriages and elected officials.   ​

​In another part of town, Duquesne Light Company, one of the Lower Hill First Source Center’s sponsors, held a Juneteenth Celebration at its headquarters and Dr. Kimberly C. Ellis served as the keynote speaker. The joyful event was a barbecue with Italian icees, a deejay, line dancing, poetry and all around good fun. Dr. Ellis provided an historical lesson on what Juneteenth meant in both the origins and future of America, as we move toward “a more perfect union.” Juneteenth celebrations have always, historically, been filled with moments of reflection and one’s purpose in life.