CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Governor Patrick Morrisey has signed a proclamation officially recognizing June 19, 2026, as Juneteenth Day in West Virginia, honoring the end of slavery in the United States and encouraging residents to reflect on the nation’s ongoing pursuit of freedom and equality.
“Juneteenth marks a significant chapter in our nation’s history and serves as a reminder that the promise of liberty must extend to every American,” Morrisey said. “West Virginia has its own important place in that history, having abolished slavery before the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles of liberty.”
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved people were free — more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
West Virginia played a notable role in the nation’s path toward freedom. On February 3, 1865, the state enacted legislation abolishing slavery, months before the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified later that year.
The Governor’s proclamation encourages West Virginians to observe Juneteenth by reflecting on the state’s history and the enduring values of freedom, justice, and opportunity.
