CHRISTIANSBURG (WSLS 10) - People across Virginia came together to remember "Juneteenth." Members from the local chapter of the NAACP held their annual "Juneteenth" celebration in Christiansburg on Saturday.
The community listened to songs, danced and ate fish from the NRV Progressive's Men's Club.
Organizers said they want the community to remember their heritage.
"There are things in the african american culture and history that are very important to survival, very important to have goal setting that mean something very important to our youth," Rita Irvin, the organizer of Juneteenth said.
Crowds also gathered at Washington Park in Roanoke for a Juneteenth celebration.
Juneteenth is observed across the country on June 19th. Dating back to 1865, it represents the day union soldiers landed in Texas with news that slaves were free.