Washington County Executive proclaims June 19, 2026, Juneteenth Freedom Day at downtown celebration

Washington County Executive Josh Shman proclaimed June 19, 2026, as Juneteenth Freedom Day for Washington County and read a county proclamation at a Juneteenth kickoff held as part of the Music on Maine series in downtown Westbend. The program included an invocation, the national anthem, a flag presentation and musical selections.

Shman opened the event by framing June as "Freedom Month," linking Memorial Day, Flag Day and Juneteenth as part of a monthlong commemoration. He noted Washington County has marked Juneteenth locally since 2020 and asked residents to pause in remembrance of the long fight to end slavery.

Pastor Clark Schultz of Shepherd of the Hills delivered the invocation and prayed for officials and service members. "Nothing you do will make me love you more and nothing you do will make me love you less," Schultz said during the prayer, which closed with an "Amen." A young man identified as Kale led the national anthem, and Tara Gundram, a staff member in the county executive's office and a Marine veteran, presented the Juneteenth flag and explained its symbols as representing freedom, a new horizon and hope.

Shman read the county's 2026 Juneteenth proclamation aloud; the proclamation cited June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, as the date enslaved people were informed of their freedom under the Emancipation Proclamation and referenced the adoption of the 13th Amendment. The proclamation also recounted Washington County’s prior Juneteenth observances and formally designated June 19, 2026, as Juneteenth Freedom Day across the county.

Shman thanked event partners including the Downtown Westbend Association for co-hosting and Manitu Group for sponsoring Music on Maine, and invited attendees to enjoy refreshments provided for the occasion before the event concluded.

The program was ceremonial; there were no votes, motions or policy decisions recorded during the event. The county proclamation and the program’s presentations were the primary public actions.