June 19, 2025
Dear Gettysburg College Community,
On June 19, 1865—160 years ago today—federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas. They used their arrival as an occasion to inform all enslaved men, women, and children that, with the Civil War concluded and as declared in the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Lincoln more than two years earlier, they were now free. Known as Juneteenth or Freedom Day, June 19 commemorates a significant chapter in American history: the formal end of slavery in the United States.
At Gettysburg College—on a campus so deeply entwined with the American story—we are reminded of the responsibilities entrusted to us as Gettysburgians and our charge to shape a brighter, more just future.
Juneteenth is a time for celebration and reflection. It also calls on each of us to consider how we will ensure this promise of freedom is fully realized in our own time.
For our students and employees on campus this summer, I’d encourage you to attend our Juneteenth concert at the Majestic Theater on Sunday, June 22 at 5 p.m., featuring acclaimed jazz and blues singer Antoinette Montague. This special community event will be a celebration of unity and togetherness. The concert is free; tickets are required.
As we eye the start of a new academic year, we remain committed to fostering a campus where every member truly belongs. This is our shared work—and it moves us yet closer to the ideals we commemorate today.
Sincerely,
Bob Iuliano
President
Eloísa Gordon-Mora
Chief Diversity Officer