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At the June 9 West Point City Council meeting, Mayor Steve Tramell presented representatives of the West Point Juneteenth Committee with a proclamation acknowledging the committee’s efforts in organizing events related to the holiday.

Mayor Tramell read the proclamation that detailed the history and significance of Juneteenth as a holiday, describing the events that led to its first observance.

The proclamation describes the holiday as the longest recognized African American observance celebrated in the country.

The Greater Valley Area Juneteenth Committee was convened in the fall of 2010 by Dr. Randy B. Kelley to sponsor inaugural events commemorating the Juneteenth holiday. It became a national holiday in the United States on June 15, 2021.

The most recent celebration of Juneteenth will mark the 160th anniversary in the city of West Point, GA.

The committee has sponsored events such as the Freedom Walk, in which participants walked from West Point into the city of Lanett. Mayor Tramell and Councilman Kevin Patrick participated in the event to show their support. Additionally, the committee hosted the Juneteenth Heritage reception, a community festival, fireworks, and the youth poster contest.

The representatives of the Juneteenth committee received the proclamation. They thanked both the mayor and the city council for the honor, expressing the hope that the relationship between the committee and the city of West Point would remain prosperous.