PERTH AMBOY – There will be a Juneteenth flag raising ceremony at Perth Amboy, NJ City Hall Circle. Saturday, June 19, 2021, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. This event is hosted by the Friends of Perth Amboy Legacy and is a social distancing/mask wearing event.

This event is in recognition of the fact that when President Lincoln freed the slaves in January of 1863, the slaves in Galveston Texas did not find out until June 19, 1865, two and a half years later, when the soldiers came through with the mail. Former slaves combined the month of June and the 19th day and called it Juneteenth, Freedom Day to celebrate the day when those slaves found out they were freed.

Juneteenth is recognized and celebrated nationwide by some people. This is the first year that the state legislators in the State of New Jersey have made June 19th a state holiday.