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Today is the first official celebration of the Juneteenth holiday.
Juneteenth commemorates June 19th, 1865, when Union Army General Gordon Granger arrived at Galveston, Texas, and notified enslaved people there that they had been freed.
The holiday had been observed informally since that time. Recently, it was designated an official federal holiday. Because of the Monday Holiday provision, most federal offices will be closed today, and there will be no mail delivery.
Michigan established a related informal holiday, Juneteenth National Freedom Day, in 2005. It was observed on the third Saturday in June. This year, Governor Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed June 19th as an official holiday.
Some state offices will be closed today, including Unemployment Insurance Agency offices, and most courts. Some local governments have chosen to observe the holiday, while others have not.
The major financial markets will be closed, and some financial services may not be available.
