Governor signs proclamation recognizing June 19 as Juneteenth Day, City of Buckhannon offices to close Friday for West Virginia Day

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Governor Patrick Morrisey has signed a proclamation recognizing June 19, 2026, as Juneteenth Day in West Virginia, recognizing the historic end of slavery in the United States and encouraging West Virginians to reflect on the enduring importance of freedom.

“Juneteenth marks a significant chapter in our nation’s history and serves as a reminder that the promise of liberty must extend to every American,” said Morrisey. “West Virginia has its own important place in that history, having abolished slavery before the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles of liberty.”

The City of Buckhannon announced Thursday afternoon that all city offices, including the transfer station, will be closed Friday, June 19, 2026, for West Virginia Day.  Normal waste collection will take place. The transfer station will be open Saturday, June 20, during its regular Saturday hours, 7:30 – 11:00 a.m.

West Virginia Day honors the state’s founding on June 20, while Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved people were free, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

West Virginia also played a notable role in the nation’s journey toward freedom. On February 3, 1865, the state enacted legislation abolishing slavery, months before the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified later that year.

Morrisey encourages all West Virginians to observe Juneteenth by reflecting on our shared history and the enduring values of freedom, justice and opportunity that unite us as Americans.