House Resolution 11 - Introduced HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 11 BY GAINES and ABDUL-SAMAD A Resolution acknowledging the 25th Anniversary of the 1 Iowa Juneteenth Observance. 2 WHEREAS, Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration 3 of the end of slavery in the United States and was 4 first celebrated 150 years ago on June 19, 1865, 5 approximately two and one-half years after the signing 6 of the Emancipation Proclamation; and 7 WHEREAS, since its inception, Juneteenth has grown 8 into a cultural treasure that is celebrated both 9 nationally and internationally; and 10 WHEREAS, the Iowa Juneteenth Observance was founded 11 in Des Moines on June 19, 1990, by Mr. Gary Lawson and 12 has been spearheaded since then by Mr. Lawson with 13 the mission of educating Iowans on the history of 14 Juneteenth and preserving Juneteenth history in Iowa 15 for future generations; and 16 WHEREAS, the Iowa Juneteenth Observance highlights 17 the African-American experience in the annals of 18 Iowa history and respects the cultural diversity of 19 Iowa by recognizing the importance of sharing the 20 African-American experience in a manner that promotes 21 a better appreciation for strengthening bonds within 22 the larger community of freedom-loving peoples across 23 the state; and 24 WHEREAS, on April 11, 2002, legislation was signed 25 into law officially recognizing Juneteenth in Iowa and 26 declaring that it be annually observed on the third 27 Saturday in June, with the request that the Governor 28 -1- LSB 2555HH (2) 86 rn/sc 1/ 4

H.R. 11 annually issue a proclamation encouraging individuals 1 and institutions to observe Juneteenth across the 2 state; and 3 WHEREAS, during 2006 and 2007, the Iowa Juneteenth 4 Observance collaborated with various state agencies, 5 businesses, and community-based organizations to raise 6 funds and place Juneteenth history books in public 7 libraries in all 99 Iowa counties, and also made 8 Juneteenth history books available to middle school 9 libraries in school districts across the state; and 10 WHEREAS, during 2007, the Iowa Juneteenth Observance 11 proposed and initiated an ongoing project with the 12 Mid-Iowa Council of Boy Scouts for the purpose of 13 increasing the membership of urban youth in scouting 14 activities, including the issuance of an Iowa 15 Juneteenth Observance Patch which may be earned by Cub 16 Scouts and Boy Scouts; and 17 WHEREAS, from 2009 through 2014 the Iowa Juneteenth 18 Observance coordinated with the Iowa Department of 19 Cultural Affairs to establish a Juneteenth in Iowa 20 museum exhibit at the State Historical Building 21 in order to preserve Juneteenth history in Iowa 22 for future generations, which is currently placed 23 on display during the months of May and June to 24 afford individuals, families, schools, and other 25 community-based institutions across Iowa an opportunity 26 to learn about Juneteenth; and 27 WHEREAS, the Iowa Juneteenth Observance annually 28 recognizes individuals around the state who volunteer 29 to improve communities across Iowa with the Iowa 30 -2- LSB 2555HH (2) 86 rn/sc 2/ 4

H.R. 11 Citizen of the Year Award for extraordinary community 1 volunteerism, the Jesse F. Taylor Award for advocacy 2 for the underrepresented, the Mary McLeod Bethune 3 Award for educator of the year, the James Derham Award 4 for health practitioner of the year, and the Liberty 5 Award for extraordinary work with voter education and 6 registration; and 7 WHEREAS, the Iowa Juneteenth Observance also 8 recognizes individuals and organizations in the state 9 that contribute and sustain music genres created by 10 African Americans, such as the Del “Saxman” Blues 11 Legacy Award, the Tyrone “Rocky” Weston Gospel 12 Legacy Award, and the Ernest “Speck” Redd Jazz Legacy 13 Award; and 14 WHEREAS, the Iowa Juneteenth Observance established 15 a “King and Queen Coronation” in 1992 to demonstrate 16 the importance of family values and community service, 17 with couples nominated from across the state and the 18 selected couple serving a two-year reign to perform 19 as ambassadors of the Iowa Juneteenth Observance at 20 various functions; and 21 WHEREAS, the Iowa Juneteenth “King and Queen 22 Coronation” recently received national recognition for 23 its uniqueness; and 24 WHEREAS, the Iowa Juneteenth Observance recognizes 25 the importance of scholarship, cultural diversity, and 26 community relations, exemplified by an annual essay 27 contest which encourages high school students across 28 the state to write about these underpinnings of a great 29 citizenry; NOW THEREFORE, 30 -3- LSB 2555HH (2) 86 rn/sc 3/ 4

H.R. 11 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 1 That the House of Representatives acknowledges the 2 25th Anniversary of the Iowa Juneteenth Observance and 3 recognizes the significant role of the Iowa Juneteenth 4 Observance in serving as a cultural and historical 5 asset to Iowa’s citizens. 6 -4- LSB 2555HH (2) 86 rn/sc 4/ 4