This year’s local event, set to take place rain or shine on Saturday, June 15, serves to kick off the Civil War 150: Prelude to Gettysburg commemoration of the burning of the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge in 1863 to prevent the advance of Confederate troops. Duncan stressed that all people are invited to attend the Juneteenth festivities.
The event, a collaboration between St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church and Mount Zion A.M.E. Church, will begin at 10 a.m. with a memorial ceremony at Zion Hill Cemetery, located on North Fifth Street in Columbia, to honor the Union soldiers of the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Colored Infantry who are buried in the cemetery. A sign designed by local businessman Mark Kife for the cemetery will be dedicated, as well. Following the ceremony, the traditional Juneteenth parade - including re-enactors, the color guard from a local American Legion post, the South Side Steppers from the York Crispus Attucks, the Fifth Masonic District Masons, and descendants of some of the honored Union troops - will proceed to Mount Bethel Cemetery on Locust Street. Ceremony attendees will be welcome to join the processional. At Mount Bethel Cemetery, another ceremony will commemorate the service of additional 54th and 55th Massachusetts members, as well as Columbia’s Juneteenth founder, who are all buried there.
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2 comments:
Is the sign makers name correct Mark Kife or shouldit be Mark Kise?
I'm guessing it should be Mark Kise, who is a Columbia artist.
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