Juneteenth Roadtrip to Richmond

The Juneteenth federal holiday commemorates the end of slavery.  It originated from the date, June 19, 1865, when a military order was publicly announced in Galveston, TX  informing the last of the enslaved people in the Confederacy that they were free.

In celebration of this national holiday please join St. Mary’s parishioners June 18-19 for an overnight trip to Richmond to learn about slavery and emancipation in that city and to attend Sunday service at St. Phillips in Richmond.  We will carpool or caravan to Richmond the morning of Saturday, June 18th.  We’ll have a guided tour of the Richmond Black History Museum, and we’ll visit Lumpkin’s Jail, where slaves were detained for auction.  We will end the day by heading to the Juneteenth celebration at Dorey Park, where there will be bands playing, numerous food and other vendors, and fireworks at 9:15.   We recommend staying at the Courtyard by the airport, which is not far from Dorey Park.  The highlight of the trip will be attending the 10:30 service at St. Phillips in Richmond on Sunday, June 19th.  St. Phillips is a primarily Black congregation led by Rev. Marlene Forrest, who was previously a Seminarian at St. Mary’s.  Please contact David Smith at dls1789@verizon.net or 703-635-4611, to register or for more details.  Please feel free to invite others and to join some or all of the trip.