Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned that they were free. It came over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and is considered the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth was declared a Federal and State holiday in 2021, and is a paid holiday for the Diocese of Michigan and Cathedral staff.
For a short history of how Juneteenth became a holiday, you can read the article by clicking the button below.