In spite of concerns prompted by a troubling post on social media days before the event, Sunday afternoon’s Juneteenth celebration in Gloucester went ahead, with a change in venue, as people gathered at The First United Baptist Church at White Marsh for this year’s “Celebration of Freedom, Family, Faith and Future.”

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned that they were, in fact, free. The following year, freed slaves had their first celebration of what is now known as Juneteenth, and it has been celebrated ever since. Juneteenth was recognized both a state and federal holiday in 2021.

PHOTO BY STEVE GREAVES
During Sunday’s Juneteenth program, Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Jo Hughes surprised 8-year-old Gloucester resident Christian Montaque with a gift, a rare, solid plastic, “Junior Deputy” badge, to honor his good sportsmanship and thoughtfulness, after he’d defeated a couple of deputies in a cornhole game und...