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Community celebrates first Juneteenth event

By ZOË HAGGARD - zhaggard@t-g.com
Posted 6/21/22

Saturday was Bedford County’s first annual Juneteenth Celebration on the Shelbyville Square, which honored many local government leaders, black-owned businesses, and heritage.

Bedford County …

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Community celebrates first Juneteenth event

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Saturday was Bedford County’s first annual Juneteenth Celebration on the Shelbyville Square, which honored many local government leaders, black-owned businesses, and heritage.

Bedford County Mayor Chad Graham read the proclamation, making Juneteenth a recognized national holiday here in the County.

Graham read from the proclamation that Juneteenth serves as “a historical milestone, reminding Americans of the triumph of the human spirit over cruelty of sale of slavery.” It commemorates the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and the last group of slaves to receive the news that they were free on June 19, 1863.

Awards

Certificates of Public Service were given to county commissioners Ed Castleman and John Brown, who served 40 years on the Commission.

“Both these men have serves with dignity and honor, and now they’re going to step aside to let the next generation step up and serve the 8th district in a tremendous way,” Graham said. Both county commissioners will not be running in the upcoming election.

Awards were also given to city council members Marilyn Ewing and Gary Haile. Haile also sang the National Anthem.

“They’re going to try to continue to fill the shoes of Mr. Castleman and Mr. Brown,” said Gililland Resource Center member Joanne Gaunt. “They are still standing with the reigns to make sure we are represented and a voice for us—all of Shelbyville and Bedford County.”

National sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated just chartered a new chapter in Bedford County—as well as Maury and Williamson counties—and donated two $1,000 checks during the Juneteenth Celebration.

One donation was given to the Shelbyville Community Clinic and the other to the Gilliland Historical Research Center. They wanted to support an organization that offers help to the community and one that offers arts, according to member Sandra Avent.

“Part of our mission and our goal is to provide community service within the communities that we work in, so we selected two organizations in each of those counties to give our fundraiser money to,” she said.

Freedom in Bedford

Shelbyville-Bedford Partnership CEO Shane Hooper gave a “sermonette,” acknowledging where the County is economically and where they plan to go forward.

“This day is about celebration of freedom—freedom of opportunities,” Hooper said. “Opportunities means opportunities for education, for jobs, and that’s what we’re all about at the Shelbyville-Bedford Partnership.”

Playing off the idea of community, which ends in unity, Hooper emphasized the need for all in the County and City to work together as a whole in order to offer these better opportunities. “Juneteenth was a possibility because we had white people that were ready to stand up and do the right thing. Without them, this day doesn’t get to become reality.”

Hooper said he is proud to do what he is doing as the economic director in Bedford because he wants to work to provide education and better jobs to everyone.

“I see people every day who say, ‘Well, we don’t need that really. We're good where we are.’ No, you might be good where you are, but everyone isn't good where they are.”

“Because until all of us are free, none of us are free,” Hooper finished.