THERE'S MUCH TO DO IN LEXINGTON, MO DURING JUNETEENTH WEEKEND!

                      Congratulations to the Forest Grove Committee for these activities!

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD QUILT SAMPLER RAFFLE AND QUILT RAFFLE

 

QUILT RAFFLE

An Underground Railroad Quilt Sampler

(Made with period-correct fabrics. Measures 42” x 55”.)

2022 Lafayette County Juneteenth Celebration

June 17, 18, 19

Tickets: $1.00 each, OR,  $5.00 for 6

Drawing:  June 19, 2022         Do not need be present to win.

All proceeds benefit the Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation Committee.  It is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization.

Quilt will be on display at the P&H Center, 1111 Main Street, Lexington, MO. Andy presents on the quilt codes on June 18, 2022 at 9 am at the P&H Center.

For more information, Contact Andy Mockridge

660-232-2115

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION THREE-DAY SCHEDULE OF ALL ACTIVITIES

 

JUNETEENTH:

CELEBRATE FREEDOM!!!

HOSTED BY THE

LAFAYETTE COUNTY JUNETEENTH FOUNDATION

Juneteenth 3-Day Celebration 

Friday, June 17, 2022

ALL ACTIVITIES ARE HELD IN LEXINGTON, MO

All activities are free and with a family atmosphere.

 Juneteenth celebrations have been held in our county since 2005. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery. June 19, 1865, union soldiers, led by General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with 2000 Federal troops to issue the order that the Civil War had ended and that all slaves were free. This was two and half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation that had become official on January 1, 1863. The first Lafayette County, MO Juneteenth celebration was held in 2005.  Annual observances have occurred during most years since our start.  In 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation to make Juneteenth a national holiday. Juneteenth National Independence Day is the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.

Friday, June 17, 2022 P&H Center, 1111 Main Street, Lexington, MO

9 AM – 5 PM The P&H Center will be opened for visitors join in the activities.

10:45 AM -12:15 PM - Meet and Greet - Come and meet the Lafayette County Juneteenth Committee, the Lexington Bicentennial Committee  and other groups who are in and out of our county. Receive information about Juneteenth, the Bicentennial and what other groups are doing. The Lexington Bicentennial Committee has been instrumental in providing friendship, support, and is a funding partner of the 2022 Juneteenth Celebration.

Displays – Black Schools in the County,  Historical Focus on Higginsville, Odessa, Mayview, Lexington. Juneteenth, Banners, Juneteenth historic silhouettes, Children artwork, Underground Railroad Quilt

 Voter Registration Day- NAACP - People who need to register to vote can do this during Juneteenth at the P&H Center.

 

1 PM –Pennytown - Descendants will share about the historic area that is 8 miles southeast of Marshall, MO. They will share about the founder, families that resided there. They will share about the new book about this historic site.

2 PM – African-Americans of Note in Lafayette County, MO – Carol Hannon -There will be a video presentation of notable African-Americans of Lafayette County.

 

3 PM - Voting Update -Meet Jennifer Middleton, County Clerk

Jennifer will provide us with voter update information for the upcoming state and national elections.    

 

4 PM – 5: 15 PM Panel on Under Our Skin and Q&A – Coordinator/Moderator/ Reverend Dale Felder and special speakers.  Participants read the book,  Under Our Skin: Getting Real about Race. Getting Free from the Fears and Frustrations that Divide Us, written by Benjamin Watson with Ken Petersen. Panelists will share their reactions and insights.  The book study was initiated by the Higginsville Ministerial Fellowship.  Panel members are Father Tom Hawkins, Rev. Andy Mockridge, Rev. Dr. Greg Fine, Rev. Wilbur Conway, and Dr. Bonita Butner.

 

The Lex, 111 South 11^th Street, Lexington, MO

6 PM – Evening Program

Special Music : The KC Boys Choir and The KC Girls Choir. Mr. Ah’Lee E. Robinson is the CEO of the Board of Directors, Founder, and Musical Director. We thank the Lexington Ministerial Alliance for bringing these choirs to our celebration.

Dedication announcement – Recognition of  the late Roger Elliot, the late Leonard Wayne Seals, and the late Clyde Williams. Elliot was the past president of the John Carter Lodge in Richmond, MO. Seals was a LCJF board member and a retired Chicago Police Officer. Williams was the past president of the Mar-Saline Chapter of the NAACP.

Underground Railroad Quilt Raffle - Reverend Andy Mockridge – Announces raffle, displays quilt, invites folks to the presentation.

7 PM – Guest Speaker – Colonel (Retired) Anthony S. Cole, Sr.

Finance Officer

United States Army

Colonel Anthony Cole hails from Lexington, MO and will be this evening's guest speaker.

 

Saturday, June 18, 2022 P&H Center, 1111 Main Street, Lexington, MO

 9 AM – 5 PM The P&H Center will be opened for visitors join in the activities.

Displays - Geraldine Williams- Black Inventors, Arts and Crafts, Quilts, Black Schools,  Juneteenth displays

9:00 AM - Underground Railroad Quilt Presentation – Reverend Andy Mockridge -

My Interest in the Underground Railroad and How this Quilt Block Sampler Came to Be

 

“It was an honor to be called by Arron Haynes in 2021 and asked if I would like to be a member of the Lafayette County Juneteenth Planning Committee. As soon as we got off the phone an idea popped into my head: I could make a quilt for the 2022 Juneteenth celebration. The design that kept surfacing in my mind was of a quilt block sampler containing many of the quilt blocks used in coded-quilts during the 1800’s. The purpose of these quilts and their embedded codes was to aid enslaved persons in their escape and flight to freedom via the Underground Railroad.        

 

For me, this quilt block sampler represents an opportunity to educate people about: the ingenuity and courage of those who made the Underground Railroad possible and those who utilized it; the dangers and challenges of attempting to escape the bonds of slavery; and, how critical the Underground Railroad was to freeing thousands of enslaved people.”

                    

1 PM - Artist in Remembrance, Margareit Jackson –  Mrs. Jackson was known for her crafts, working for the Ike Skelton family when he was in Washington as our House of Representative, etc.. Mrs. Jackson displayed her crafts during a past Juneteenth Celebration.  Carol Hannon, a relative of Mrs. Jackson, will provide some special insights.  On display, will be items made by Mrs. Jackson.

 Belinda Rowe, instructor and Christine Cook, Missouri Artisans,  will teach how to twine and crochet. This is a participant activity. Yarn and hooks are provided and they are willing to show others how to start crocheting. If you have crocheted an item, bring it to “show and tell.”

 Ora Mae Williams and Doris and Pamela Graham, crafters -Arts and Craft display –  Ora, Doris and Pamela will talk and share examples of their work.  They enjoy in doing crafts for holidays and throughout the year.

 Martha Bird’s Quilting Class display -Martha will display some quilts and discuss how she helps others learn to quilt.

4 PM –  5:30 PM   Lest We Forget – The Vital Roles of Black Schools sand Black Educators Before School Integration.   Reverend Everett Hannon, Jr , pastor of the Second Missionary Baptist Church and moderator, Reverend Alvin Dixon, pastor of the Second Baptist Church in Richmond, MO and panel. Panel members are to be announced.

Panelists will share their experiences of being educated in schools for

black children. Recognition of those who attended the schools in Higginsville, Lexington, Odessa,  and Mayview, MO and other towns. We want to always remember the vital role these schools.

Saturday, June 18, 2022 Moose Lodge, 1161 2510 Main St, Lexington, MO

 

6 PM – 8 PM  Saturday Youth Night – Introducing “Beth Smith, Family, and Friends.” Beth Smith, coordinator, Location: Moose Lodge, 1161 2510 Main St, Lexington, MO

 This activity is a high energy event for children, youth and parents. Activities will include games, contests, DJ Lewy, music, free hot dogs, chips, and drinks, and lots of fun. Children ages 9 and under need to be accompanied by a parent or an adult.

Juneteenth, Sunday, June 19, 2022 P&H Center, 1111 Main Street, Lexington, MO

Happy Father's Day, too

 9 AM – 5 PM The P&H Center will be opened for visitors join in the activities.

11 AM  Worship Service with Second Missionary Baptist Church, 1201 Main Street, Reverend Everett Hannon, Jr., pastor.

2 PM – The City of Lexington Bi-Centennial community Service at the Lex.

P&H Center, 1111 Main Street, Lexington, MO

3 PM – Opening Prayer, Proclamations, History of Lafayette County, MO Juneteenth Celebrations, Winner of the Underground Railroad quilt, Children's Poster Contest results, Special Remarks, Allan Lee-Concert, Closing Prayer

 

4 PM -The Pre-Gospel Concert Reception will be at the P & H Center with light refreshments. Coordinator - Allan Lee

 

6 PM –  Gospel Concert on the Courthouse steps.   Allan Lee, coordinator, brings together a talented group of singers.

ACTIVITIES TO TAKE IN

Saturday June 18, 2022

BATTLE OF LEXINGTON HISTORIC SITE, 1101 Delaware St, Lexington, MO

(660) 259-4654

Saturday June 18, 2022

1 PM -BATTLE OF ISLAND MOUND FILM, DISPLAYS, CHRIS FRITSCHE, DIRECTOR.

“The Skirmish at Island Mound was a skirmish of the American Civil War, occurring on October 29, 1862, in Bates County, Missouri. The Union victory is notable as the first known event in which an African-American regiment engaged in combat against Confederate forces during the war.” Wikipedia

 Sunday, June 19, 2022

1 PM – BATTLE OF LEXINGTON FILM, DISPLAYS, CHRIS FRITSCHE, DIRECTOR

         For further questions contact: Arron Haynes, President at 816-419-3704.

The Mission Statement of the Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation  

Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation Mission statement is to develop and implement a one day festival that promotes the celebration of family, celebrates African-American freedom, and cultivates mutual involvement of social service entities, and economic participation of the county-wide business community.

The Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation extends a heartfelt thank you to the members of the Lexington, MO Bicentennial Committee, the Lexington Ministerial Alliance, and the staff at Battle of Lexington Historic Site for being great supporters and partners of the 2022 Lafayette County, MO Juneteenth Celebration!

“If you want to go quickly, go alone.  If you want to go farther, go together.” 

African Proverb

                                  

The Mission Statement of the Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation 

Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation Mission statement is to develop and implement a one-day festival that promotes the celebration of family, celebrates African American freedom, and cultivates mutual involvement of social service entities, and economic participation of the county-wide business community.

The Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.

 

JUNETEENTH 2022 "CELEBRATE FREEDOM EVENT --ALL ACTIVITIES ARE IN LEXINGTON, MO JUNE 17-JUNE 19, 2022

 

2022 LAFAYETTE COUNTY, MO JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

Members of the Lafayette County, MO Juneteenth Foundation have been meeting for several months to plan for the summer event.  The theme is "Juneteenth: Celebrate Freedom!"  The event will be held from Friday, June 17 through Sunday, June 19, 2022.  All activities will be held in Lexington, MO which is 13.9 miles north of Higginsville, MO.  The event is planned to occur alongside of the Lexington, MO Bi-Centennial Celebration.  

Juneteenth National Independence Day is now a federal holiday.  It was signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021. 

The committee is excited and is striving to plan activities that are free and family friendly. Activities are being planned with Covid-19 precautions in mind.  More details will be given in the future.  Please mark your calendars to attend.  Tell your friends and family.

TODAY JUNETEENTH IS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY: JUNETEENTH MEANS FREEDOM AND CELEBRATION!:

“Great nations don’t ignore their most painful moments,” Mr. Biden said during a signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House, surrounded by lawmakers and guests, including Opal Lee, a Texas activist who campaigned to make Juneteenth a national holiday. “Great nations don’t walk away. We come to terms with the mistakes we made. And remembering those moments, we begin to heal and grow stronger.”

                                                                     President Joseph Biden

                                                                              6/17/2021

    

                                                    Logo artist:  Deborah Brooks Walker

Juneteenth Means Freedom and Celebration

                                                              

The Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation will not have its annual celebration this month due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are excited about planning for a 2022 celebration. We are submitting this article to provide you a way to observe Juneteenth 2021. Through this writing, we have an opportunity to share the history, the mission and the spirit of Juneteenth celebrations in Lafayette County, MO. We ask that you wear your Juneteenth t-shirt especially on June 19 and during the month of June.

Juneteenth celebrations have been held in our county since 2005. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery. June 19, 1865, union soldiers, led by General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with 2000 Federal troops to issue the order that the Civil War had ended and that all slaves were free. This was two and half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation that had become official on January 1, 1863.

Discussions to host a celebration began during some “porch talks” between Reverend Wilbur Conway, Arron Haynes, and Linda Smith in 2004. The group agreed that it needed to be a county-wide effort with volunteers from communities in Lafayette County. The group wanted a parade, positive activities for the family, a day free of any alcohol consumption, and a focus on education about the historical and cultural contributions of African-Americans.. From their brainstorming and attending other celebrations, the first official meeting was held on September 9, 2004. The NAACP Mar-Saline branch hosted this meeting and provided seed money. The event theme was “Staying Alive in 2005.”

Committee members who planned the first 2005 Lafayette County Juneteenth Celebration were Arron Haynes-chairperson, Alvin Walker-vice-chairperson, Linda Smith-secretary, Norman Haynes- treasurer, Reverend Wilbur Conway-events and parade coordinator, Lucille Williams-co coordinator, Deborah Walker-publicity coordinator, Dale and Deborah Mays-clean-up coordinators, Keith Bass-security coordinator, Marjorie Hannon-assistant secretary, Mable Hawkins, Finnus Johnson, Fred Smith-horshoe tournament coordinator, Kiree Haynes, Clyde Benton, Patricia Elmore, Bruce Cole, Tammra Cole, Dr. Corrine Conway, Ron Miller, Yvette O'Dell, and Raymond Nichols. Volunteers were from Higginsville, Lexington, Odessa, MO and other towns.

The 2019 annual celebration with the theme “United We Stand: Now or Never!” was a two-day observance that was held at the community building, in addition to a bus trip out of town to see African- American historical sites, Rose M. Nolen Black History Museum in Sedalia, MO and Pennytown in Saline County. Ray Shepard, a historian and author of young adult biography, Now or Never! 54th Massachusetts Infantry’s War to End Slavery. Shepard was a dynamic keynote speaker. He was born in Sedalia, MO. Other activities were a flag raising ceremony conducted by Scout troop #415, a meet and greet brunch for community groups to share about their services. Hazel Johnson, Fred Smith, James Watkins, and Emanuel Mason were on the special panel who grew up during the Civil Rights era. Allan Lee was the moderator. The group shared personal stories of positive and negative experiences,. There was a special commemoration event held at the Mount Muncie Cemetery in Higginsville, MO. The cemetery was organized in 1900 for the burial of African-Americans. Perry Parker, Joshua Johnson, and Charles Smith, three United States Colored Troop veterans, who served in the Union Army during the Civil War were honored. Volunteers from the the American Legion Post #223 of Higginsville, MO conducted a 21-gun salute. A crew team from the 41 KSHB news station interviewed committee members and the service was featured in that evening's news broadcast.

During the celebration in 2018, many of us learned about the Battle of Island Mound from our guest speaker, Brigadier General, Donald L. Scott, USA, (Ret.). He showed a special documentary about the Union victory that was the first time an African- American regiment fought against Confederate soldiers. The Battle of Island Mound was a Civil War skirmish that occurred on October 29, 1862 in Bates County, MO. General Scott shared about his memoir, Recipient of Grace. He grew up in Hunnewell, MO which is close to Hannibal, MO.

Over the years, a priority has been to develop partnerships with local individual businesses, community and civic organizations, area county and state agencies, schools, and youth-serving organizations. Local mayors and state representatives attended celebrations and provided proclamations. We have formed some valuable relationships that are county and state-wide. Area businesses participated in buying ads for the souvenir booklets and giving donations. We have long-term relationships with some chapters of the Buffalo Soldiers which helped to educate others about their origin, military service and accomplishments. A local Marshall, MO resident, the late Margaret Banty, for years was committed to displaying her collection of items that were invented by black people. She brought a display annually until her death. Other agencies who provided displays or presentations were the Missouri Museum, The University Extension, a girl scout troop, veterans groups, Lafayette County Health Department, Missouri Conservation Department, CERT, Confederate Historic State Park, and area churches.

Music has been a highlight at past celebrations. David Carr, Jr jazz musician from Texas was a favorite performer, in addition to local disc jockeys, local performers, gospel groups, local bands, and music student program performances. Over the years, the highlight of our parades were horseback clubs, youth entries and several drill teams, the Marching Cobras, the Marching Falcons, and the Marching Tigers.

Special children activities have included displays, parades, horseback rides, carnival games, and 3 on 3 basketball competition. Youth speakers have given motivating presentations.

There have been special awards given. At the 2013 celebration, the theme was Freedom For All” and we held the Spirit of Freedom Awards. Some members of the Class of 1956 were honored for being the first African-Americans who graduated in the year when Lafayette County schools were integrated. The following honorees were: Myrlon Edwards, Reverend Wilbur Conway, Fred Smith, Travis Benton, Edward Haynes (deceased), James Calbert (deceased) all attended the Higginsville High School. Lexington High School graduates were Nina Miller Dixon (deceased), James Bolton (deceased), Sophia Bolton Haynes, (deceased) Robert Lee Smith, John L. Slaughter (deceased), and Zelma West Richardson was a graduate of Odessa High School. Area school superintendents gave special gifts. Family members of deceased honorees accepted their awards. We were pleased to have Abraham Lincoln on our program through enacter, Dale Felder. The 2013 souvenir booklet provided information titled, “A Timeline of Lafayette County & African Americans.

Over the years we have evolved into a foundation and have non-profit status. We operate as the Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation. We have a Facebook page that has many historical facts and our activities. We have a blog, https://lafayettecountyjuneteenth.blogspot.com.

Over the years, many people have served on our committee. The current committee members are Arron Haynes-chairperson, Deborah May-vice chairperson, Linda G. Smith,-secretary treasurer, Ron Miller, Everett Williams, James Watkins, Julia D. Hunter, Sheila Haynes, and Evelyn Trigg. We are always seeking youth and adults who want to help us with our upcoming events. We seek ways to partner with other groups. We are excited to participate in the Missouri Bicentennial county activities in 2022.

The Mission Statement of the Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation

Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation mission statement is to develop and implement a one-day festival that promotes the celebration of family, celebrates African-American freedom, and cultivates mutual involvement of social service entities, and economic participation of the county-wide business community.

The Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation is a non-profit organization under 501(c) (3).

For further information contact Arron Haynes, chairperson, (816) 419-3704 or email: abhaynes@ctcis.net.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU

Apologies for not getting this posted to our blog!

The Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation extends a heartfelt thank you for all of the people who helped to make our recent fundraiser a success. You came and supported all of our day's activities!
We thank those who brought donations and/or helped with serving the food: Doris Graham, Sadie Miller, Evelyn Trigg, Sheila Lee, Shirley Hollins, Julia Hunter, Pastor Andy Mockridge, Paul Beal. We appreciated all of the desserts and delicious soups which included taco, oxtail, chili, seafood potato, potato soup, vegetable, etc. We had special monetary donations from Mable Hawkins and Cindy Johnson, and others who could not attend. Reverend Everett Hannon and Carol Walton-Hannon, thank so much for your donation and support!

We had special support from our Lafayette County Commissioners, Tracy Dyer and Craig Williams. Thanks for spending the day with us!

We appreciate the partnership with the Odessa Parks and Recreation in helping us to have the event at the Dyer Park Community Center. We thank the WinCup Factory for donating paper goods.

We thank Sydney Haynes for singing and sharing her gift. Evelyn Trigg did an outstanding job at bringing us a skit that highlighted the 100th anniversary of the women's suffrage movement.

We thank Everett Williams, Shea Williams, and Frances Watkins for baking three delicious cakes and made our Soul Sweet Cake Silent Auction a success!.

Also, those who presented on the black cemetery panel were very informative and did an excellent job in their updates: Arron Haynes (Mount Muncie Cemetery, Higginsville, MO); Everett Williams (Odessa, MO City Cemetery); Nina Jones (Forest Grove Cemetery, Lexington, MO), and Mrs. Minnie Elmore (Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Alma, MO).

We especially thank all of our committee members who have worked tirelessly to plan and implement this event and gave numerous donations: Arron Haynes, chairperson, Deborah May, vice chairperson, Linda Smith, secretary-treasurer, James Watkins, Everett Williams, Sheila Lee, Ronald Miller, Evelyn Trigg, Milton Smith, and Wayne Seals.