Re-Cap of Juneteenth 2019 that appeared in local paper

The theme, “United We Stand: Now or Never!.” was joyfully celebrated during the Lafayette County Juneteenth Foundation's observance of Juneteenth which occurred over a two day period. Juneteenth is the observance of the end of slavery in this country. Missouri recognized Juneteenth as a State Holiday or State Holiday Observance since 2003.

This year's steering committee was Arron Haynes, chairperson, Deborah May, Ron Miller, Wayne Seals, Fred Smith, Linda Smith, Evelyn Trigg, and Mary Turner. Volunteers represented the communities in Lafayette County.

On Thursday, June 14, 2019 at 10:00 am the program included the raising of the flag by members of the Troop 415 Boy and Cub Scouts, singing of the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, reading of The Preamble, and excerpts from the Declaration of Independence and the General Order No. 3 that was read by he Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865 in Galveson, Texas. Tracy Dyer and Craig Williams, Lafayette County Commissioners and Bill Kolas, Mayor of Higginsville, MO read and presented proclamations. An invocation and benediction was given by Reverend Wilbur Conway.

A meet, greet, and share networking activity immediately followed the flag raising ceremony and it included a light brunch. A proclamation was provided by Robin Bauer, Chief of staff for State Representative Denny Hoskins who was unable to attend. Attendees provided information about their respective organizations included Dale Felder of the Christian Ministries, William Thompson of the Bridge of Hope Ministries, Alice Elmore and family, Reverend Wilbur Conway, Fred Smith, Linda Smith, Arron Haynes representing the Mount Muncie Cemetery Association; Helen Moore and Marty Wood from the Harvey Higgins Historical Society; Joe Aull, longtime friend and supporter of our Juneteenth celebrations; Eugene Williams, Minnie Elmore, Julia Hunter, Edward Haynes, Elinor Shepard Howard, Juanita Shepard Nicolas, Charles Shepard, Josephine Redd who were from Michigan, Nebraska, and Missouri and attended to surprise their brother and friend, Ray Anthony Shepard, keynote speaker for the evening program. Emanual Mason shared about his display that included memorabilia of Lexington music bands and Negro Baseball League.

Linda Niendick, Lafayette County Clerk, provided a workshop at on 1 pm on voting and information about the Real I.D. A brief Q & A session was part of her presentation.

Participants which included Cathy and Ray Shepard, speaker and author of the young adult biography, Now or Never! 54th Massachusetts Infantry’s War to End Slavery, gathered at 3 pm for a commemoration service for three Civil War United States Colored Troops veterans who are buried at the Mount Muncie Cemetery which is located south on Shelby Road. The veterans honored were Joseph Johnson, Perry Parker, and Charles Smith. The program included prayer by Bishop William Thompson, chairperson of the Mount Muncie Cemetery Association , reading of the 23^rd Psalm by Thompson and Cailelya Peacok , a song tribute to John Brown, a riderless horse tribute by Dr. Joahn Hall of the Howard A. Hall Foundation and Buffalo 6 Ranch in Richmond, MO. Dr. Hall dressed as Cathay Williams, African American woman from Independence, MO who enlisted in the Union Army as a man and was discovered to be a woman at the time of her discharge. Hall shared briefly about Williams and also the Buffalo Solidiers. Special memorial flowers were placed on each grave by Shepard and LeCaiya, Cameiya. and Cailee Peacock, granddaughters of Earl and Alice Elmore. Members of the American Legion Post 223 were the honor guards and provided a gun salute. Ariel Rothchild and a team member from the the KSHB Channel 41 news team conducted interviews and the segment was aired later that evening.

A researcher, Michelle Brooks, learned of the commemoration service and provided more information about other U.S.C.T. veterans who are from Lafayette County and served in the Missouri 62^nd regiment. This regiment of soldiers are credited with being the founders of Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO. One veteran, Samuel

Elmore, Sr. was from Lafayette County and some of his descendants are from Higginsville, MO. She can be contacting at showmereporter@yahoo.com.

The real life-sharing storytellers panel moderated by Allan Lee provided a very insightful and educational highlight of the day. Reverend Wilbur Conway, Hazel Johnson, Emanuel Mason, Milton Smith, and James Watkins were the panelists.

Watkins stated that he had “inspired reflections” while he prepared and presented his information on the panel. Smith shared his experience in attending school in Chicago. He commented on how his teacher told him that he had excellent manners. She added that “Attitude builds character. Character builds attitude.” Smith shared that those have been guiding words throughout his life. Johnson reflected on her experience in the late 1950's as being one of the first African American girls to join the brownies and go all the way through Girl Scouting to achieve the highest award, the Curved Bar. Johnson recalled that her troop traveled to the city to shop at the Blue Ridge Mall. She stated that they went to eat at the Blue Rooster Restaurant that was located across the street. She heard the staff tell her leader that “everyone could be served but me and that I could be served in the back and not in the front.” She heard her troop leader inform the staff that the Scouts did not discriminate and the group left. Johnson added that “it made me fell proud that my leader stood up for me.”

After enjoying a huge spread of at the welcome dinner, attendees joined the evening program lead by the Mistress of Ceremonies, Evelyn Trigg. Reverend Everett Hannon gave the invocation, the crowd rose to sing “Lift Every Voice,” Arron Haynes, chairperson welcomed the group, Linda Smith recited poems by Langston Hughes, Carol Hannon sang “People Get Ready,” and Ray Shepard gave riveting keynote address. He told the large group in attendance that he would talk on “the history that we lived, not the history we were taught.” Shepard provided a Q&A period before the book signing. The program closed with remarks from Smith, Haynes, Clyde Williams, president of the Mar-Saline branch of the NAACP and benediction given by Reverend Mary C. Williams. The program was dedicated to the late Ronald Cole (1944-2019) who was a long time friend and treasurer for the Foundation.

On Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 9 am, a group traveled to tour the Rose M. Nolen Black History Library which is located at 109 Lima Alley in Sedalia, MO. Co-founder, Dr. Marge Harlan and Brooke Tibbets, daughter, welcomed and gave presentations about the library. Dr. Harlan spoke about her relationship with Rose Nolen and her and her late husband's decision to build the library. She spoke of the highs and lows of the experience and her mission. Harlan also spoke about the sharecroppers riot in 1939. Dr. Harlan shared the jars of soil that she and her daughter have been collecting at the site were African-Americans lynched in Missouri.

Prior to going to the Pennytown historic site, the group were provided lunch by the members of the Taylor United Methodist Church. A display about the church and other related historic events was on display for the group.

Virginia Huston and her brother Clarence Lawarece, and other members of the Friends of Pennytown welcomed the group. Pennytown, a black hamlet in Saline County started by freedman, Joe Penny in 1871. The Pennytown Freewill Baptist Church has been restored and is the only physical building that remains. The members of the Mar-Saline NAACP, Reverend Pam Sebastian and Clyde Williams provided cold drinks and cookies. Ms. Huston provided a Pennytown church experience with songs and testimonies lead by Reverends Mary C. Williams and Glenn Elmore, Bishop William Thompson, and Sheila Lee. Bishop Thompson gave the spoken word. Ms. Huston provided the history of Pennytown, invited the group to the annual Pennytown Homecoming to be held on August 4, 2019.

Sedalia-born historiographer and author Ray Anthony Shepard traveled with the Juneteenth group on the out of town activities and had some closing thoughts. He said, “The Juneteenth celebration, which included a commemoration service for the Civil War United States Colored Troops (U.S.C.T.) at Mount Muncie Cemetery and visits to the Rose M. Nolen Black History Library and Pennytown's historic Freewill Baptist Church reminds of the generations for enslaved and freeborn African Americans who made America a multiracial democracy.”