Heidelberg celebrates Juneteenth

TIFFIN — On the morning of Friday, June 19, Heidelberg University hosted the Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony in front of Beeghly Library, led and coordinated by alumnus and Director of Student Affairs Aaron Nelson. Juneteenth, a blend of "June" and "nineteenth," is the celebration of African American freedom and achievement. It is recognized as the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States and became officially recognized as a federal holiday by the United States government in 2021, highlighting its importance in American history and the ongoing struggle for civil rights. The event began with the signing of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," led by Nelson. The crowd of university leaders, board members, trustees and generations of Heidelberg alumni joined Nelson in singing the Black National Anthem, serving as the official kick-off to the ceremony. The first speaker of the ceremony was 2019 Outstanding Alumni Award winner Elrich "Pete" Green, class of 1978. Green currently holds the office of Burlington Township Mayor in Burlington County, New Jersey, and has dedicated his career to maintaining a strong commitment to making his community a better place to live and learn with his countless contributions to the schools, libraries, local government, nonprofits and his church, he said. Donning the jacket of his fraternity, Sigma Tau Nu, Green used his speech to illustrate the significance and symbolism of raising the flag. He explained how raising the Juneteenth Flag alongside the American flag represented reverence, patriotism and victory. Green also addressed more recent developments in social justice in the United States. In March 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order called "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," which resulted in the removal of educational signs detailing slavery, climate change, forced migration and other painful chapters of American history from National Parks across the country. "You can remove history, but you can't erase history," said Green. Green's speech was followed by the reading of a poem entitled "The Birth of Free" by Heidelberg University Assistant Professor of Education Nichole Griffin. The poem spoke of the stages of African-American freedom, from Reconstruction, to Jim Crow and the Civil Rights Movement, and to the continued struggles that face the African-American community to this day. The poem also incorporated crowd participation. Griffin asked the audience to repeat the words "truth" and "righteousness" throughout the entirety of her speech, highlighting what it has taken for Black Americans to achieve freedom and equality. Nelson then took to the podium to give his speech named "Building the Bridge." The speech began with the reading of General Order No. 3, which informed the people of Texas that, in accordance with the Emancipation Proclamation, all enslaved individuals were now free, marking a significant moment in the history of emancipation in the United States and establishing Juneteenth as a celebration of freedom from slavery. Nelson said in the speech, "Juneteenth calls us to remember not only the resilience of those who survived slavery, but also the systems and decisions that made such resilience necessary in the first place." Nelson's speech illustrated emancipation from slavery not as a destination that was reached, but a bridge for Black Americans to work towards a more equal and just society. "Juneteenth does not allow us to become comfortable with symbolism alone. It challenges us to reflect honestly on the kind of community we are continuing to build together," saidNelson, emphasizing that freedom was not a monument to be admired, but a structure to be maintained. He also addressed the leadership of his alma mater and employer, Heidelberg University. "To our leadership and to our board of trustees, your leadership helps shape the direction of this institution, and with that leadership comes the responsibility to ensure that Heidelberg continues to strive to be a place where students from every background feel seen, supported, challenged, and empowered to succeed," said Nelson. At the end of his speech, joined by Griffin, Nelson walked to the flagpole in front of Beeghly Library and raised the Juneteenth Flag alongside the American Flag. Nelson spoke with The Advertiser-Tribune following the ceremony about why this event was important, not only for himself, but for the university as a whole. "When I went here as a student, we had only 2% minority, now we are up to maybe 14-15%, so we've evolved as an institution. But it's important for me because this is my culture. Not only was I a black student at Heidelberg, now I am a black employee at Heidelberg, and everybody wants to be represented and have a platform where their culture can shine. Juneteenth is a significant day on the calendar … and Heidelberg's commitment to support it makes the work environment and the school environment that much more inclusive." Following the flag raising, attendees entered Beeghly Library for a reception symbolizing cultural traditions. The library was decorated with flags and photos representing the federally recognized holiday and had tables of traditional African foods and an exhibit of books written by African-American writers from throughout U.S. history.