Juneteenth in Guam
Juneteenth falls on June 19 and is a U.S. federal legal public holiday. In Guam, federal holiday status does not by itself establish that every Government of Guam office or local business closes: the Judiciary's published holiday schedule and the Department of Revenue and Taxation's list of observed holidays do not include Juneteenth.[1][2][3]
What Juneteenth commemorates
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced freedom for enslaved African Americans there. The Emancipation Proclamation had been issued in 1863, but it could not be enforced in Texas until Union forces arrived. Juneteenth recalls both emancipation and the delayed arrival of that news and enforcement.[4]
Congress made Juneteenth National Independence Day a federal legal public holiday in 2021, adding June 19 to the federal holiday statute.[1] It is a U.S. national observance rather than a holiday that began in Guam.[1][4]
Its status in Guam
Guam's published Judiciary holiday schedule and the Department of Revenue and Taxation's list of Government of Guam observed holidays do not name Juneteenth.[2][3]
The federal holiday applies to federal employees, including federal personnel stationed in Guam. For federal employees, when June 19 falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is generally treated as the holiday for pay and leave; when it falls on Sunday, the following Monday is generally used. Those federal scheduling rules do not establish local government or private-sector closure rules.[1][5]
Observances and local customs
The historical meaning of Juneteenth is tied to African American emancipation in Texas and the wider United States.[4]
The National Park Service describes Juneteenth observances in the United States that can include parades, family reunions, speeches, and foods associated with the celebration.[4]
Closures and visitor planning
Federal offices and services may follow federal holiday schedules, but check the specific Guam office before making plans. The Judiciary of Guam's published holiday calendar and the Department of Revenue and Taxation list do not include Juneteenth.[2][3]
Check directly with banks, businesses, public transport providers or visitor attractions for their opening hours on Juneteenth.[2][3]
Juneteenth in Guam: frequently asked questions
Is Juneteenth a day off in Guam?
When is Juneteenth observed?
Do Guam courts or Government of Guam offices close?
Sources and references
Sources used for Juneteenth in Guam:
- 117th Congress Public Law 17- U.S. Government Publishing Office
- Judiciary Hours & Holidays- Judiciary of Guam
- Help- Government of Guam, Department of Revenue and Taxation
- Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom- U.S. National Park Service
- Federal Holidays- U.S. Office of Personnel Management