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Frontier Times Museum Executive Director Rebecca Norton speaks during the annual Juneteenth celebration, held at the Bertha Tryon/Hendrick Arnold Cemetery, on June 19.
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Guests gather for a free community picnic lunch, following the annual Juneteenth celebration, held at the Bertha Tryon/Hendrick Arnold Cemetery, in Bandera, on Friday, June 19.
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Gale Waden performs Lift Every Voice & Sing during the Bandera Juneteenth celebration, held June 19.
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De'Rell Pittman recites original poetry during the Bandera Juneteenth celebration, held June 19.
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Larry Jackson reads an excerpt from the Emancipation Proclamation during the Bandera Juneteenth celebration, held June 19.
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Suzanne and Larry Jackson lay the wreath during the Bandera Juneteenth celebration, held June 19.
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Photos by Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
June 21, 2026
Juneteenth celebrated at the Bertha Tryon/Hendrick Arnold Cemetery
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
On June 19, 1865, 250,000 Texas slaves were freed, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. With Union troops, General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston to issue an order of emancipation in Texas, the last state of the Confederacy to delay slaves’ freedom.
The first Juneteenth celebrations were held in Texas in 1866, on the anniversary of Granger’s arrival. In 1979, Governor William P. Clements signed an act making the day a state holiday. In 2021, President Joseph Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.
The first Bandera County official celebration honoring Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, was held in 2022, at the Bertha Tryon/Hendrick Arnold Cemetery - a parcel owned by Freedman and soldier Hendrick Arnold. Arnold (1804-1849) was awarded land after the Texas Revolution for his service and bravery in the Siege of Bexar (1835) and the Battle of San Jacinto (1836).
Once again, the historic Tryon/Arnold Cemetery was center stage for the annual Juneteenth celebration in Bandera, which featured traditional gospel music by Gayle Warden, original poetry recitations by Da’Rell Pittman, stories of resilience and an excerpt from the Emancipation Proclamation by Larry Jackson, the laying of the wreath by Larry and Suzanne Jackson, and a community picnic.
The event was coordinated by the Frontier Times Museum, the Bandera County Historical Commission, and the Silver Sage Community Center.
The first Juneteenth celebrations were held in Texas in 1866, on the anniversary of Granger’s arrival. In 1979, Governor William P. Clements signed an act making the day a state holiday. In 2021, President Joseph Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.
The first Bandera County official celebration honoring Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, was held in 2022, at the Bertha Tryon/Hendrick Arnold Cemetery - a parcel owned by Freedman and soldier Hendrick Arnold. Arnold (1804-1849) was awarded land after the Texas Revolution for his service and bravery in the Siege of Bexar (1835) and the Battle of San Jacinto (1836).
Once again, the historic Tryon/Arnold Cemetery was center stage for the annual Juneteenth celebration in Bandera, which featured traditional gospel music by Gayle Warden, original poetry recitations by Da’Rell Pittman, stories of resilience and an excerpt from the Emancipation Proclamation by Larry Jackson, the laying of the wreath by Larry and Suzanne Jackson, and a community picnic.
The event was coordinated by the Frontier Times Museum, the Bandera County Historical Commission, and the Silver Sage Community Center.