A Time to Celebrate and a Time to Remember!
Happy New Year! As we just celebrated New Year’s Eve, also referred to as “Watch Night” in many African American churches, we enter a new year, a new beginning, a new tomorrow still remembering and honoring the days that have been ingrained in our hearts and minds about our past. Watch Night began as a celebration and remembrance of the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in the Confederate states during the American Civil War on January 1, 1863. President Abraham Lincoln declared more than three million slaves to be free; however, this news did not immediately make it to African Americans living in Texas. For two additional years, they remained enslaved until Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, letting them know that slavery was abolished and they were free. The former slaves celebrated with prayer, feasting, song, and dance. Over 100 years later in 1980, the state of Texas declared Juneteenth a state holiday as a sign of restitution to those it had wronged.
In 2021, Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday by President Joe Biden for the United States of America to remember the sacrifices that our foremothers and forefathers made and honor the contributions of African Americans to this country.
This past year in June 2022, Juneteenth was celebrated for the first time by the first African American Female Vice President of the United States of America, Vice President Kamala Harris. The celebration was held at the Vice President’s residence in Washington, DC, and Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Troop 487, chartered by Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church, Fort Washington, Maryland under the pastoral leadership of Pastor Grainger and Co-Pastor JoAnne Browning, Senior Patrol Leader, Aaron Lundy, and his family, were invited to represent the Boy Scouts of America and the National Capital Area Council at this inaugural celebration. The day included a family-style cookout, poetry, singing, and reflections from Annette Gordon-Reed’s book “On Juneteenth” to honor the “tradition of Juneteenth.” Vice President Harris shared what an honor it was for her to initially present the bill (along with other members of Congress) to make Juneteenth a holiday and that once the Senate approved the bill she while acting as President of the Senate, was able to sign the Senate’s approval to make the day a national holiday. Vice President Harris told guests not only are they “free” physically, but they are “free” to be whomever they want to be and free to do whatever they desire in life…the limits are off.
The sun was bright and seemingly representative of the smiles of our ancestors smiling down on this day. Laughter, conversations, and joy covered the lawn of the residence. The crowd of distinguished guests included Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Marcia Fudge and the first African American Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin. It was truly a day of reflection and remembrance from whence we have come. Senior Patrol Leader Aaron Lundy was able to glean words of wisdom from the Secretary of Defense. Secretary Austin encouraged him to keep achieving greatness and press on to obtain his Eagle award, knowing that it will be recognized and set him apart as he continues his journey through life. Senior Patrol Leader Lundy also met other former scouts and an Eagle award recipient from Nevada who also encouraged him to stay the course. Aaron shared that this experience showed him the expansive reach the scouting program has and affirmed his awareness that scouting brings about recognition and honor that he is proud to represent. Aaron says although it was very “organized and secure”, he felt “welcomed, relaxed and calm” as he roamed the VP’s lawn. He enjoyed his lunch of pasta salad, hamburgers, hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, corn on the cob, garden salad, peach cobbler, and sprite. He says this experience is one he will never forget and although he was honored to be there, he expressed that he wished it “didn’t have to be celebrated,” and that the inhumane acts shown to our ancestors should have never happened. Aaron is grateful to his troop and leaders for the opportunity to represent them at such an illustrious event.
To learn more about AAMES and how to start a Scout Unit or the AAMES 2024 Camporee contact.
Michele Neal, Connectional Director of AME Girl Scouts Email: michele@amescouts.org; the Rev. Dr. Missiouri McPhee, Connectional Director of AME Boy Scouts Email: info@amescouts.org
And to see what AAMES is up to visit our AAMES WEBSITE: amescouts.org; or our Facebook Page “AAMES Scouting Connection.“
