[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 86 (Monday, June 17, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING JUNETEENTH, VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 17, 2013

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the Vallejo Juneteenth Celebration.
  On Saturday, June 15, 2013, the Solano County African Family 
Celebration Committee marks the City of Vallejo's 25th anniversary of 
the Juneteenth Celebration. Juneteenth is the national observance of 
African American freedom from slavery in June of 1865. Juneteenth is 
also a time to also celebrate the positive contributions of African 
Americans nationally and locally, and to promote a cultural connection 
of the observance as an opportunity to build strong communities through 
access to health services and education resources.
  For over two decades the Solano County African Family Reunion 
Celebration Committee has served the community with its network of 
volunteers serving as the African American Family Reunion Committee, 
AAFRC.
  The AAFRC has partnered with local non-profit and for-profit health 
care organizations to provide free health services to community. The 
Juneteenth celebration also emphasizes education as the key to a 
successful future and includes participation by local educational 
institutions and after school programs that seek to increase the number 
of African American students enrolling in college.
  Mr. Speaker, on this occasion it is my distinct pleasure to recognize 
the Juneteenth Celebration in Vallejo, California on the 25th 
anniversary of their momentous event. I join our colleagues in 
celebrating the African American Community of Solano County's rich 
history and wishing them a successful 25th year with many more to come.

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