BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — On Friday, Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh issued a proclamation in honor of Juneteenth.

Juneteenth, a portmanteau of “June” and “nineteenth,” is an annual holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. It's also sometimes called “Juneteenth Independence Day,” “Freedom Day,” or “Emancipation Day.” Specifically, June 19, 1865 marks the date that Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War was over and that all remaining slaves in the state were free

In a Facebook post, the city said: "Mayor Karen Goh issued a proclamation today in honor of the holiday that is meant for reflection on the sacrifices made by African-Americans and to recognize their contributions to our nation, including the Mayor's assistant Danielle for her service to the community!"

According to the proclamation, the state of California passed legislation in 2003 recognizing Juneteenth as "a day that symbolizes freedom and remembrance for the many who made the ultimate sacrifice building our country."