Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day

Attend a Memorial Day Ceremony: Many communities organize Memorial Day ceremonies at local cemeteries, memorials, or Veterans’ organizations. Participating in these events provides an opportunity to pay tribute to fallen soldiers alongside fellow citizens and Veterans.

Visit a Military Cemetery: Take a moment to visit a Military cemetery in your area and place flowers or flags on the graves of fallen soldiers. This simple act of remembrance is a powerful way to honor their memory and show appreciation for their service.

Support Veterans and Military Families: Consider volunteering with organizations that support Veterans and Military families. Whether it’s organizing care packages, providing assistance with job placement, or offering emotional support, there are countless ways to give back to those who have served. 

Moment of Silence: At 3:00 PM local time on Memorial Day, observe a moment of silence to honor the fallen. This simple yet profound gesture is a way to collectively pause and reflect on the sacrifices of those who gave everything for our country.

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Players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities

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Teacher Appreciation Week

Scotlandville Alumni sponsored lunch for Teacher Appreciation Week at Scotlandville Magnet High School on Thursday, May 6th. We were able to feed over 80 members of the faculty and staff at the school. The teachers were so thankful for a warm meal with sweets.

Special thanks to Chef Darryl Flowers for preparing the lunch. 

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.  Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19^th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.

Later attempts to explain this two and a half year delay in the receipt of this important news have yielded several versions that have been handed down through the years. Often told is the story of a messenger who was murdered on his way to Texas with the news of freedom. Another is that the news was deliberately withheld by the enslavers to maintain the labor force on the plantations. And still another is that federal troops actually waited for the slave owners to reap the benefits of one last cotton harvest before going to Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. All of which, or none of these versions could be true. Certainly, for some, President Lincoln's authority over the rebellious states was in question. Whatever the reasons, conditions in Texas remained status quo well beyond what was statutory.