Federal Order · Full-Staff
Flags at Half-Staff for Juneteenth National Independence Day
June 19, 2026
President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law on June 17, 2021, establishing this federal holiday to honor the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved people were finally free, nearly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This holiday recognizes a pivotal moment in American history and celebrates the freedom, dignity, and contributions of African Americans to our nation.
Flag protocol
Fly the U.S. flag at full-staff on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day, a federal holiday.