As part of our commitment to Celebrating Life’s Stories^® — our mission to honor every individual’s unique life experiences — we stand together with our Black and African American teammates, patients and families in commemorating Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day.  

On June 19, Americans nationwide join together to recognize Juneteenth, a day that marks the freedom of African Americans from slavery in the United States. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863, declared all slaves in Confederate states free. However, it took more than two and a half years and the end of the Civil War for the news of freedom to reach all enslaved people across the nation. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, taking control of the state and announcing the abolishment of slavery.  

As we honor Juneteenth, we recognize that there is still work to be done to ensure all Americans experience equity and inclusion. We are committed to this goal in all aspects of our mission of Celebrating Life’s Stories. To discover more about Juneteenth and its significance, please visit: https://www.juneteenth.com/history