By Glenn Rolfe

GEORGETOWN — Freedom with ties to 19th century and recent history rang out at a historic site in Georgetown Saturday.

Juneteenth 2021 was celebrated at the former Richard Allen School grounds — two days after President Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, a federal holiday.

Georgetown’s event featured food, fun, games, a variety of vendors, entertainment, snapshots of history and views of the world today.

“Juneteenth is so very important and that is why we insist upon celebrating regardless, on this day,” said Jane Hovington, president of the nonprofit Richard Allen Coalition. “This is the day — this the actual day — that African Americans were freed as slaves. Yes, we had the Emancipation Proclamation, but on June 19 (1865) in Galveston, Texas, that is when the word got out from the soldiers … the soldiers rode into Texas to let them know that they were free.”

Georgetown Mayor Bill West called for continued efforts for unity.

“With the way things are going on in this world, we have a lot of hatred,” said Mayor West. “It’s time for that hatred to be put aside. We need to become a community of one. I’m still working on that ‘community of one.’ As we come together as one, we can do some big and better things, and make this country a bigger and better place, and make Georgetown a special place.”

“There is a lot of hatred in the world right now. And it is hatred that is dividing us,” said State Sen. Brian Pettyjohn. “It’s hard to see, from a standpoint of somebody who represents a very diverse community. It’s hard to see from the standpoint of somebody who enjoys the company of everybody. I don’t care who you are. I don’t care if you’re Democrat or Republican, White, Black, Native American, Asian. I don’t see that. I like to surround myself with good people. And it is those good people that we need to bring together to help the heal the divisions that we have in our communities, that need to bring forth the truth about what’s going on out in the world.”

Ms. Hovington said there is work still to be done.

“I am here to tell you that there is a change coming. We can see it happening in the legislature. We can see it happening in the different states. We just have to persevere,” Ms. Hovington said. “Your voice is through that voting. If you don’t vote, then you don’t have a voice.”

City of Milford Mayor Archie Campbell said Juneteenth is a true cause for celebration, calling it a “very important date.”

“We should celebrate this. If you look at me, I am celebrating,” Mayor Campbell said. “We all should represent each other, welcome each other … have a big smile on your face.”

Sen. Pettyjohn offered a ray of hope, viewing the celebration and unity on the grounds of the former Richard Allen School, a school built by businessman/philanthropist Pierre S. duPont and attended by African American students for several decades, beginning in the 1920s.

“If you spend your days and nights watching CNN, Fox, BBC, you’d think the world is just burning down around you. But it’s not. Look around today. This is what it is about. This is what community is about. People coming together to celebrate freedom,” Sen. Pettyjohn said. “Juneteenth 1865 — this is a date in history that not a lot of people knew about until recently. But it is such an important date, not just for the African American community but for our nation. Let’s start the process of moving forward.”

Richard Allen School, which bears the name of a freed slave, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mayor West offered thanks to Ms. Hovington and the Juneteenth organizers.

“It means a lot to a lot of people,” said Mayor West. “And we’re free! There is not a person here that is not free. And it’s going to stay that way.”

Numerous nonprofits were on hand, including First State Community Action Agency and the Buffalo Soldiers of Delaware.

A statewide organization with membership of about 30, Buffalo Soldiers of Delaware are active in communities up and down the state. The organization annually awards three $500 scholarships — one each to a graduating senior in Kent, Sussex and New Castle counties. It also donates canned goods, toiletries and other items to the Home of the Brave and other shelters.

“We try to alternate so we can hit the shelters all over the state because we are a statewide organization,” said Skip Hutson, a “retired but still active” Buffalo Soldier member. “We are just the one chapter here for the whole state.”

Buffalo Soldiers were African American soldiers who served predominantly on the Western frontier following the Civil War. In 1866, six all-Black cavalry and infantry regiments were created by Congress with passage of the Army Organization Act.

The name Buffalo Soldiers wasn’t given to them by Congress.

“That name was actually allotted to them by the Native Americans, when they were in the West and the Midwest,” Mr. Hutson said. “They patrolled from the Mississippi River to the West Coast, helping to map the territories, helping to find watering holes, guarding the construction of the railroad and the telegraphs, as well as chasing outlaws.”

The task given to Buffalo Soldiers by the Union Army, Mr. Hutson said, was to — unfortunately — subdue the Native Americans.
“What the soldiers found themselves doing a lot of times was helping to protect those Native Americans while they moved them onto reservations. So, while unfortunately they were suppressing them, at the same time there was a respect between them because they treated them more humanely,” Mr. Hutson said. “So today there remains a strong relationship between African Americans and Native Americans, partly because of that.”

Juneteenth was the venue for Gail and Linwood Reid to spread word about their newly formed 501 (c) (3) non-profit — Aliyah’s Cupboard, established in memory of their granddaughter who passed away in 2018.

“We support the children’s wing at TidalHealth Nanticoke,” said Ms. Reid. “We donate blessing baskets to families who have children that are in medical crisis.”

On Saturday, July 31, the Reids will hold a motorcycle/car show fundraiser at their property — 29372 White St., Millsboro. It features free food, music and fellowship and proceeds/donations go to support their support of TidalHealth Nanticoke’s children’s wing.

Unable to attend Juneteenth due to a memorial service for her uncle, State Rep. Ruth Briggs King sent best wishes and support, read by Ms. Hovington.

“In 2021, we are free again to join in celebration and fellowship to celebrate Juneteenth,” Ms. Briggs King’s message stated. “Although I am not with you in person, my thoughts and best wishes are with you. My commitment to you and our community is unwavering.”