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Lewes celebrates Juneteenth Freedom Day

Heat, heritage and entertainment mark third annual festival
June 24, 2024

Lewes celebrated Juneteenth Freedom Day on the scorching-hot afternoon of June 22.

Visitors were into the festival and the history. They were also into the shade wherever they could find it in George H.P. Smith Park. Organizers had tents and free water to provide relief from the 100-degree temperatures.

Juneteenth is a federal holiday that marks the day the last slaves received official word that they were free, June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas.

The Rev. Dr. Deborah McCaffity, pastor of St. George African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lewes, said the purpose of the celebration is to not let Black history die.

“We want to instill a sense of heritage and pride in Black youth and help us come to remember that we are a people who have a strong sense of overcoming and are full of resilience,” McCaffity said.

Mayor Andrew Williams read a proclamation from the city marking the Juneteenth holiday. He said he remembers when he was growing up in Lewes, the city was more diverse, and he hopes it will be again.

“We have a strong and long history of contributions by the African American community,” Williams said. ”I’m appreciative of the African American Heritage Commission to make sure the present-day community remembers that.”

Lewes African American Heritage Commissioner Trina Brown-Hicks said 70 vendors and three food trucks has signed up for the celebration.

There were performances from Best Kept Soul, Bethel AME Praise Team, and Christy Taylor & The Groove.

Beebe Healthcare provided free healthcare screenings.

Darryl and Darnell Daisey placed some of their family’s vintage photos around the park. They also created a Lewes Black history timeline for people to read as they walked into the main entrance. The Daiseys can trace their genealogy as far back as 1773.

The photos are part of an exhibit at the Lewes History Museum called Voices Heard: The History and Legacy of the Black Community in Lewes.

 

 

 

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