Juneteenth: Celebrating freedom, holding on to hope

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Ronald E. Jolly Sr., U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa logistics, engineering and force protection director, lights a candle after giving a speech during the Juneteenth: Vigil for Healing event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 19, 2020. More than 90 Kaiserslautern Military Community members attended the event to listen and acknowledge Black service members’ personal experiences surrounding racism and how it has shaped their drive to serve. June 19th is a celebration of freedom and commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States in 1865. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nesha Humes Stanton)

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Christian William, U.S. Army Europe Band and Chorus platoon sergeant, and Spc. Willie Reed, USAREUR Band and Chorus pianist, play music during the Juneteenth: Vigil for Healing event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 19, 2020. More than 90 attendees listened as Black service members commemorated the suffering and lives lost through U.S. history due to racial injustice. June 19th, also known as Emancipation Day, observes the ending of slavery in the United States in 1865. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nesha Humes Stanton)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. George Linen, 86th Force Support Squadron Airman Leadership School instructor, recites a poem during the Juneteenth: Vigil for Healing event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 19, 2020. The joint event was the first in Ramstein history and featured black service members sharing their personal experiences with racism and how it’s shaped their lives. June 19th, also known as Emancipation Day, commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States in 1865. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Nesha Humes Stanton)

Kaiserslautern Military Community members perform a dance in celebration of Juneteenth at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 19, 2020. After paying homage to the suffering and deaths due to racial inequality in U.S. history during a Vigil for Healing service, attendees stepped outside for a dance celebration of hope to highlight the influence of Black culture. June 19th is a celebration of freedom and commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States in 1865. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nesha Humes Stanton)

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mark R. August, 86th Airlift Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Ernesto J. Rendon, 86th AW command chief, sign a message board during the Juneteenth: Vigil for Healing event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 19, 2020. More than 90 Kaiserslautern Military Community members attended the event to listen and acknowledge Black service members’ personal experiences surrounding racism. June 19th, also known as Emancipation Day, commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States in 1865. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nesha Humes Stanton)

U.S. Army Spc. Willie Reed, U.S. Army Europe Band and Chorus pianist, plays a song during the Juneteenth: Vigil for Healing event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 19, 2020. More than 90 attendees listened as Black service members commemorated the suffering and lives lost through U.S. history due to racial injustice during the two-hour event. June 19th is a celebration of freedom and commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States in 1865. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nesha Humes Stanton)

Kaiserslautern Military Community members sign a message board titled, “Listen, Reflect, Respond” following the Juneteenth: Vigil for Healing event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 19, 2020. Six service members shared stories, poetry and songs on their experiences surrounding racial injustice in U.S. history and the importance of caring for one another in our military community. June 19th commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States in 1865. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nesha Humes Stanton)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Maurice D. McRae, 86th Communications Squadron commander support staff noncommissioned officer in charge, poses for a photo during a Juneteenth dance celebration at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 19, 2020. After paying homage to the suffering and deaths due to racial inequality in U.S. history with a vigil, attendees stepped outside for a dance celebration of hope to highlight the influential culture of Black people. June 19th, also known as Emancipation Day, commemorates the ending of slavery in the U.S. in 1865. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nesha Humes Stanton)

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Melissa Lampley, 569th Human Resources Company, 16th Sustainment Brigade postal platoon sergeant, speaks during the Juneteenth: Vigil for Healing event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 19, 2020. Six Black service members shared stories, poetry and songs on their experiences surrounding racial injustice in U.S. history and the importance of caring for one another in our military community. June 19th is a celebration of freedom and commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States in 1865. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nesha Humes Stanton)

U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Marquita Allen, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander enlisted executive, gives a speech at the Juneteenth: Vigil for Healing event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 19, 2020. The joint event was the first in Ramstein history and featured Black service members sharing their personal experiences with race and how it’s shaped their lives. June 19th is a celebration of freedom and commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States in 1865. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nesha Humes Stanton)

U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Johne Tribble, 86th Airlift Wing legal office noncommissioned officer in charge of litigation, writes on a message board titled, “Listen, Reflect, Respond,” during the Juneteenth: Vigil for Healing event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 19, 2020. The joint event was the first in Ramstein history and featured black service members sharing their personal experiences with racism as a call of support to their fellow service members. Also known as Emancipation Day, June 19th, observes the ending of slavery in the United States in 1865. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nesha Humes Stanton)