Juneteenth Flag Finally Flies In Wakefield

WAKEFIELD, MA — The Juneteenth flag now flies in Wakefield.

The flag was raised Monday evening at a rainy ceremony at the Americal Civic Center. This is the first year Massachusetts has recognized Juneteenth, which recognizes the end of slavery in America, as a state holiday.

"Today's a day where we mark unity in this town," poet Michelle La Poetica said.

Juneteenth observes the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Texas were told of their freedom. It was more than two years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and a few months before the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery, was ratified.

Janey David sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing," known as the Black national anthem, as the flag was being raised by the Lynn English High School ROTC.

North Shore Juneteenth Association representative and Wakefield Human Rights Commission Nicole Jacob and community member Tarae Howell also spoke.

Town Hall will be closed on Friday, June 18, for Juneteenth. Trash and recycling will not be impacted.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi. Subscribe to Wakefield Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.