Pierre M. Atlas: Celebrating both the US Army and the end of slavery

On June 14, the U.S. Army will celebrate its 250th birthday. The U.S. Army, which began as the Continental Army in 1775, was literally born fighting for freedom—against the tyranny of King George III.

Five days later, on June 19, we will commemorate another important milestone in American history: the 160th anniversary of the day the last slaves were freed by the U.S. Army at the end of the Civil War. General Order No. 3, issued in Houston by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, enforced Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in Texas and read as follows:

“The people are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property, between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them, become that between employer and hired labor. The freed are advised to remain at their present homes, and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts; and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”

General Order No. 3, issued on the day that has become known as “Juneteenth,” is a fascinating document in that it contains both the promise of equality and the seeds of future discrimination. Like much of history, it is nuanced, not simplistic.

What started as local celebrations in Texas following the Civil War became a federal holiday in 2021. Sadly, many non-Black Americans see Juneteenth as just a “Black holiday.” But the day the last slaves were freed in America is something all Americans should want to celebrate.

The U.S. Army (also known as the Union Army back then) played the critical role in ending slavery in what remains the bloodiest war in American history. As we commemorate the first quarter-millennium of the Army’s existence, it would be more than fitting to link it to the 160th anniversary of Juneteenth, five days later.

Unfortunately, any official connection between these two seminal events is unlikely to occur this year. In their bizarre war against what they call “wokeness,” President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have eliminated recognition of all “diversity” celebrations (such as Black and Women’s History Months) from military websites and activity calendars. And, yes, that even includes Juneteenth. It will remain a federal holiday but, unlike previous years, there is no acknowledgement of this year’s Juneteenth on U.S. Department of Defense websites.

In accordance with Hegseth’s sweeping ban on anything related to “diversity, equity and inclusion,” DoD websites were also “cleansed” of references to famous female and non-white military personnel, including Navajo code talkers and some Medal of Honor winners. In an attempt to erase anything “gay,” a webpage devoted to the Enola Gay, the B-29 that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, was removed. (Fact check: Enola Gay was the name of the pilot’s mother and had nothing to do with homosexuality.)

Only after public outcry were some of the canceled webpages restored. But the “cancel culture” continues: The Navy just announced that it will rename the USS Harvey Milk, originally named for the assassinated gay rights icon.

The Army’s 250th birthday and Juneteenth’s 160th year are intimately linked. The greatest moments of Army history were campaigns fought in the name of freedom and liberation: against British tyranny, against slavery, against fascism. As an Army veteran, this is what I will be celebrating—on both the 14th and the 19th.•

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Atlas, a political scientist, is a senior lecturer at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University-Indianapolis. His opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Indiana University. Send comments to [email protected].

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