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5 <br /> 1 WHEREAS, South Orange Rescue Squad contributes its volunteer EMTs and its ambulances to <br /> 2 respond to the needs of the residents of Orange County through regular scheduling in the 911 <br /> 3 System, as well as providing surge coverage and additional resources when needed; and <br /> 4 <br /> 5 WHEREAS, it is appropriate to recognize and appreciate the value and accomplishments of the <br /> 6 50 years of service of South Orange Rescue Squad; <br /> 7 <br /> 8 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, <br /> 9 do hereby proclaim June 11, 2021 as South Orange Rescue Squad Day in recognition of the <br /> 10 Squad's 501h anniversary of service to the Orange County community. <br /> 11 <br /> 12 This the 1st day of June, 2021. <br /> 13 <br /> 14 <br /> 15 <br /> 16 Renee Price, Chair <br /> 17 Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> 18 <br /> 19 <br /> 20 A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Hamilton, to <br /> 21 approve and authorize the Chair to sign the proclamation. <br /> 22 <br /> 23 Roll call ensued <br /> 24 <br /> 25 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 26 <br /> 27 Commissioner McKee said, as a former volunteer fireman, this rescue squad is very <br /> 28 valuable to the community. <br /> 29 Chair Price said it is invaluable. <br /> 30 Commissioner Fowler thanked the rescue squad for its dedication. She said in rural <br /> 31 areas, people are dependent on volunteer organizations. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 b. Resolution Supporting Juneteenth 2021 <br /> 34 The Board considered voting to approve a resolution affirming the Board of <br /> 35 Commissioners' support of previous Board action to make Juneteenth a paid County holiday in <br /> 36 this the inaugural year of observing Juneteenth on June 19, 2021. <br /> 37 <br /> 38 BACKGROUND: <br /> 39 On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the signing of the emancipation proclamation, <br /> 40 Union Major General Gordon Granger went to Galveston, Texas to deliver the news to enslaved <br /> 41 people that they were free. The first Juneteenth in 1866 in Texas was celebrated in Texas was a <br /> 42 community event where people gathered together for prayer, food, song and dance. Since <br /> 43 then, Texas families have emigrated to other parts of the United States and the historic and <br /> 44 cultural tradition of Juneteenth has followed them. Today, Juneteenth is a holiday in at least 38 <br /> 45 states. In 2007, the North Carolina enacted legislation that enables Juneteenth National <br /> 46 Freedom Day to become a state holiday when it or a substantially similar holiday is nationally <br /> 47 recognized. Last year Orange County and the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough <br /> 48 gave recognition to Juneteenth as holiday. <br /> 49 <br /> 50 Juneteenth, while a time of celebration, it is also a time of reflection. Ira Berlin, in his book, "The <br /> 51 Long Emancipation: The Demise of Slavery in the United States" finds slavery did not just <br />