OBSERVER Photo by Jo WardJeovanni Echevarria and Yenesis Lopez play a round of Connect Four on a large yard board Saturday at the Juneteenth Celebrations in Memorial Park in the city of Dunkirk Saturday.

“Together, we can create change.”

Those were the words of the 26th annual Juneteenth Celebrations that commenced in Memorial Park in the city of Dunkirk Saturday afternoon. Opened by Loretta Torain, people of all colors and creeds gathered and listened as a glorious rendition of “Lift Every Voice” was sung by Buffalo native and minister Charles Clarke. Soon after proclamations were read by Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas and Fredonia Mayor Doug Essek.

“I was here, 26 years ago as a New York State Trooper when they did the very first one and it was the start of something that I knew was going to continue because of their determination,” Rosas shared. “This community is a very diverse community, and we celebrate that diversity every day.”

“Dr. (Martin Luther) King Jr. started a journey a number of years ago, and as a civilization we have to continue that journey. We’ve come a long way, but we have a long way to go,” Essek said. “We suffer social injustice and horrific crimes to people of color that are in our society and that’s unacceptable. We as elected leaders must change that and continue to move on and create policies to change things.”

A remembrance celebration honoring all family members who have passed away was held shortly after the readings. Special remembrance was given at that time to the Buffalo 10, who died tragically in a Tops Supermarket in Buffalo on May 14 and the students and teachers who lost their lives in the May 24 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

OBSERVER Photo by Jo Ward Alida Carrasquillo does crafts at the Upward Bound tables at the Juneteenth Celebrations in Memorial Park in the city of Dunkirk Saturday.

In 1996, citizens of the Dunkirk-Fredonia community co-sponsored the first Juneteenth Celebration to be observed in Chautauqua County. The main goal of this celebration is to commemorate and perpetuate the heritage, culture and contributions of African Americans.

Juneteenth continued on Sunday in the city’s Memorial Park.