Editors, Vineyard Gazette;

Juneteenth expands as our community learns more about its origin. We recognize the end of slavery in Galveston, Tex. on June 19, 1865. 

A fitting conclusion to the week-long events was the Taste of Juneteenth, hosted by the NAACP. It was held at the PA Club where the lines were long as local chefs dished out samples of a delicious variety of tasty treats, from cornbread to ribs, lamb kabobs to fruit cups. It was a culinary delight, served with a smile.

The crowd was relaxed and refreshed by the laid-back atmosphere. The early summer heat was mitigated by a brisk breeze. A sense of camaraderie and friendship was evident in the many social interactions between new friends and old.  

Juneteenth offers our community an opportunity to bridge historic wrongs and work together for a stronger sense of Island-wide brotherhood. What an enjoyable celebration it was.

Thomas Dresser

Oak Bluffs