The Kitsap County Board of Commissioners has officially adopted a proclamation commemorating and celebrating Juneteenth National Freedom Day in recognition of the historic significance of this important American holiday.
The proclamation, adopted on June 9, 2025, acknowledges Juneteenth as the most recognized African American holiday observance in the United States, commemorating the day freedom was proclaimed to all who had been enslaved in the South by Union General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas – more than two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
"Juneteenth represents a pivotal moment in American history when the promise of freedom was finally extended to all enslaved people," said Christine Rolfes, chair of the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners. "This proclamation reaffirms our County's commitment to recognizing the struggles and celebrating the resilience of African Americans throughout our nation's history."
The proclamation recognizes that Juneteenth commemorates the survival and perseverance of African Americans who endured the horrors of the Middle Passage and more than 200 years of slavery. It also acknowledges that Americans of all backgrounds share a common love of freedom and determination to protect it through democratic institutions.
Washington State declared Juneteenth an official holiday in 2021, providing a paid day off for state and government workers. Kitsap County has observed this holiday since 2022.
Juneteenth was officially recognized by Congress as the Independence Day Observance of Americans of African Descent in 1997 through bipartisan cooperation and continues to serve as an important reminder of the ongoing journey toward equality and justice for all Americans.
Kitsap County Holiday Operations
In honor of Juneteenth, Kitsap County administrative offices will be closed on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
