The National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NBCFAE - Aeronautical Center/Oklahoma Chapter) hosted a hybrid Juneteenth celebration on June 12th at 10 am to celebrate the June 19th holiday. The celebration was held in the headquarters building auditorium, and employees also had the opportunity to join the event virtually via Zoom webinar. This event allowed employees to unite in commemorating the significance of Juneteenth, reflecting on our history, and celebrating the freedom of enslaved people.
Juneteenth represents resilience, freedom, and the enduring spirit of those who fought for justice and equality. It is a day to recognize the strides that have been made while reaffirming our commitment to a future where equality and inclusion can be a reality for everyone.
The Master of Ceremonies was Wardell (Andrew) Henning of the ATO Safety and Technical Training Runway Safety Team (AJI-1C30). Kim Sheppard, the Center’s Chief of Staff provided the opening remarks. Joyce Henderson, an Oklahoma City Educator and Civil Rights Activist, served as the keynote speaker for the event. The celebration also featured musical performances by Ahmad Kennedy from the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute and children from the Launching Pad Childcare Center. The children sang Sesame Street’s "Let’s Celebrate Juneteenth Song." Following the occasion, everyone was invited to attend a celebration at Blue Sky Café, a minority-owned small food service company, celebrating their two-year anniversary of doing business with the Aeronautical Center.
Juneteenth marks the moment on June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom – two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation! Juneteenth National Independence Day recognizes January 1865 when Congress finally proposed the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, abolishing slavery. A federal holiday became official in 2021 when President Biden signed the Act into law, making it the first new federal holiday to be enacted since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.
