Elke
American freedom is a cornerstone of our culture, and Juneteenth, Emancipation Day, and the 4th of July are important reminders of the freedom our citizens possess.
Juneteenth, or June 19, marks the 1865 arrival of Union troops in Galveston, Texas, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger announced the end of slavery in the Confederacy.
July 3, 1848, Emancipation Day, stands as a crucial date in the history of the U. S. Virgin Islands.
On the morning of July 3, 1848, enslaved peoples, led by organizer Moses “General Buddhoe” Gottlieb, marched on Fort Frederik in Frederiksted, St. Croix.
The crowd demanded immediate freedom.
Danish Governor-General Peter von Scholten feared a dangerous uprising, so he proclaimed the enslaved in the Danish West Indies emancipated on that day.
July 4th celebrates the Second Continental Congress’s adoption of the Declaration of Independence from Britain on July 4, 1776.
In addition, this 4th of July is profound, as it marks America’s 250th birthday, or the Semiquincentennial.
These are just some of the events that helped bring the U.S. the precious freedoms we hold today.
There have been many events, and many people have sacrificed so much to get us here.
And, what does freedom mean?
It can mean different things to different people, but we, as Americans, hold it near to our hearts.
Michael J. Donnelly, a U.S. Army veteran who served more than 15 years and writing as a guest for VA News wrote: “The right to speak or act without restriction, interference, or fear, or; a country’s right to rule itself, without interference from, or domination by, another country or power, or; the state of being unaffected by, or not subject to, something unpleasant or unwanted.”
Also, when asked, “What is freedom in three words?”
Google replied, “Choice without constraints.”
Whether you agree with those definitions or not, these significant dates in American history are crucial to remembering the special place we hold as Americans.
So, this week we celebrate the freedom our citizenship grants us, and the America in which we live.
Finally, no matter which of these holidays you celebrate, make sure to celebrate with the Windward Passage Hotel.
There will be a variety of events taking place in Emancipation Gardens in Charlotte Amalie, about an 11-minute walk from the Windward Passage.
Click here to book now with the Windward Passage Hotel!