News Release

Park to Mark Observance of Juneteenth

NPS

News Release Date: June 11, 2026
Contact: Brian Reedy, 724-329-5805

Farmington, Pa.  On Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 2026, Fort Necessity National Battlefield will host a living history encampment commemorating the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War, whose bravery and self-sacrifice preserved the United States while ending slavery throughout the nation. Park staff will present programs both days on the life and times of the Civil War soldier, beginning at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Each program will include a musket demonstration. 
 
Juneteenth, officially known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, marks the arrival of Federal forces to Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865. With his arrival, Major General Gordon Granger delivered General Order Number 3, proclaiming that all enslaved people in Texas were free under the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.  
 
“Union soldiers were the messengers of liberty,” said Fort Necessity National Battlefield Site Manager and Chief of Interpretation Brian Reedy. “This news brought joy to the hearts of those who thought they might never taste freedom.” 
 
NPS 
 
Fort Necessity National Battlefield  
Fort Necessity National Battlefield, a unit of the National Park Service, is the site of the battle that ignited the French and Indian War. This conflict, also called the Sever Years’ War, ended with the British removal of French power from North America. It also cost the British a lot of money, so they instituted taxes that ultimately caused a Revolution. For more information about Fort Necessity National Battlefield, call the park visitor center at 724-329-5805 or visit the park's webpage at www.nps.gov/fone 

Tags: juneteenth, george washington, fort necessity national battlefield, emancipation proclamation, end of slavery

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