Lieutenant Governor tests blender splendor

By DAVID LEE

KINDERHOOK–An annual Juneteenth celebration was held on June 19 at Rothermel Park in the Village of Kinderhook. This is the third year of the federal holiday designation which commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, TX, received the word that they had been freed from chattel slavery for 2-1/2 years. The Juneteenth event was sponsored by a coalition of pastors, ministers and lay leaders called God Belongs In Our Country.
The assembly gathered under the park’s pavilion for prayers, music and introductions. Then they processed across the park to the Persons of Color Burial Ground to look at the small group of stones that remain from a portion of the land that has been the final resting place for as many as 500 African Americans in the mid-19th century.

A bit of history was provided by Paul Stewart, co-founder with Mary Liz Stewart of the Underground Railroad Education Center. Also addressing the gathering was Lisa Fludd-Smith representing the African American Archive of Columbia County.
Back at the pavilion, lunch was served and music was provided by Zackory Biggers who played his saxophone. Elected officials in attendance included New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey (D-41), County Clerk Holly Tanner, County DSS Commissioner Robert Gibson, County District Attorney Chris Liberati-Conant and County Sheriff Donald Krapf.