1 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) Commander Col. John Nelson (left) provides keynote remarks at Yuma, Arizona's annual Juneteenth celebration at Carver Park on June 15, 2024. At right, Yuma Deputy Mayor Chris Morris looks on.
(Photo Credit: Mark Schauer)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) Commander Col. John Nelson (center) provides keynote remarks at Yuma, Arizona's annual Juneteenth celebration at Carver Park on June 15, 2024. At right, Yuma Deputy Mayor Chris Morris looks on.
(Photo Credit: Mark Schauer)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground Commander Col. John Nelson (right) talks with Yuma Police Chief Thomas Garrity (left) and Yuma Police Officer Christina Fernandez at Yuma, Arizona's annual Juneteenth celebration at Carver Park on June 15, 2024.
(Photo Credit: Mark Schauer)VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) Commander Col. John Nelson provided keynote remarks at Yuma's annual Juneteenth celebration at Carver Park on June 15, 2024.
The speech at the event was the first by a YPG commander since Juneteenth was made a federal holiday three years ago.
Nelson noted the Army's direct involvement with the holiday, which commemorates the day in 1865 that Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger enforced the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas.
"We are justly proud as Americans that throughout our history the members of our armed forces have been willing to risk their lives for the sake of peace and freedom in the world," said Nelson in his remarks. "It is tragic that the deadliest war they ever faced involved liberating their fellow Americans from oppression."
Social Sharing