Luke Airmen attend luncheon, honor Juneteenth holiday
Bishop Anthony Holt, West Valley National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) president, speaks on the importance and history of Juneteenth during a luncheon event, June 16, 2022, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Holt is an activist with a long history of service to the local community. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans by executive decree on June 19, 1865. June 19 became a federal holiday in 2021 when U.S. President Joseph R. Biden officially signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. Diversity and inclusion are imperative in the U.S. Air Force, where multicultural contributions to national defense are celebrated and all Airmen are valued and respected for their identity, culture, and background. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Phyllis Jimenez)