Juneteenth commemorates the date when Major-General Gordon Granger officially freed the enslaved in Galveston, Texas, with General Orders No. 3, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The day marks a significant event in US history as it was initially unknown to many enslaved people that their freedom had been secured due to the geographical isolation of Texas during the Civil War. Juneteenth has become a celebration of strength, sacrifice, and contributions made by African Americans, with traditions carried over from the "scatter" period after emancipation, where formerly enslaved individuals went in search of lost loved ones or built new lives elsewhere. The holiday has been recognized as a state holiday in Texas since 1980 and is now being considered for federal recognition, with a resolution passed by both the Senate and House of Representatives awaiting President Biden's signature to make it an official federal holiday.