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Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging Applauds the Establishment of Juneteenth as a Federal Holiday

By Jennifer Salkin | info@benrose.org | June 2021

The Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging applauds the establishment of Juneteenth as a federal holiday, to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. 

In signing the bill into law, President Biden said, “all Americans. . . can learn from our history and celebrate progress and grapple with the distance we’ve come but the distance we have to travel.” 

While we aspire as a nation to liberty and justice for all, the history of the United States also includes many examples of falling short of the ideal that all men are created equal. As Juneteenth nears, it is a reminder that we have unfinished business. It was years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation before the last slave was freed. Modern civil rights legislation was enacted in our lifetime. But that does not mean the work is over. In fact, it is just beginning. Progress has been made, but we have not reached the goal. By continuing to press for greater diversity, equity and inclusion, we can help more people achieve the American Dream and enjoy a longer, healthier lives. 

About Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging: Founded in 1908, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging (www.benrose.org) is a nationally recognized Cleveland-based nonprofit whose mission is to support caregivers and empower all people to age well through research, consumer-responsive services and client advocacy.