MSC News

MSC News National Headlines Sports Top Headlines CBS US News CBS Technology

Printer Friendly

Email to a Friend

Atchison Juneteenth events begin Friday

By Brian Hagen

06/08/2023

(KAIR)--Atchison's Juneteenth weekend arrives, with some aspects of the annual ceremonies beginning Friday, including an afternoon viewing of the vintage WWII Tuskegee Airmen airplane at Atchison's Amelia Earhart Memorial Airport, at 2:00, courtesy of a partnership with Atchison United.

An Atchison tradition since 2006, Juneteenth is celebrated annually, held mostly at the north side LFM Park, Saturday and Sunday.

A unique inclusion in this year's celebration is the recognition of the history of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first all African-American fighter pilot squadron.

A flyover is planned for 12 noon Saturday, over LFM Park, following the annual Juneteenth parade. Flying the vintage aircraft will be Dr. Brian Smith, President of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum, headquartered in Michigan. Then, beginning at 12:45 Saturday afternoon, Smith will speak at the park, with a focus on the history of the Tuskegee Airmen.

The public is invited to any, or all, of the weekend's ceremonies.

Juneteenth, a federal holiday recognized annually, commemorates when slaves in Texas were informed, on June 19, 1865, that slavery had ended, with that message delivered two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective.

Hear Kevin Hill, of Atchison United, discuss in-depth, the Tuskegee Airmen's role in the upcoming weekend events.