The Township of Springfield celebrated Juneteenth with a flag raising ceremony at Chisholm Park yesterday, Monday, June 21, 2021. The inaugural event included a live performance by the Essex & Union County Marching Band led by Darryl Taylor; informational tables by Springfield Unity Project and Elvira Chaush of New York Life Insurance; introductions by Anderson Blair; invocation by Rev. Milton Hobbs of Antioch Baptist Church; greetings and proclamation by Mayor Chris Weber; remarks by Andrea Holley-Blair, co-vice president of Springfield Unity Project; and a poem by Morghan Blair. At the conclusion of the program, a flag commemorating Juneteenth was raised by Mayor Chris Weber, Deputy Mayor Alex Kesier, and Township Committeewoman Erica DuBois. Juneteenth -- which became a new federal holiday last week -- recognizes the emancipation of African American slaves, as well as the two year delay between the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the freeing of slaves in Texas in 1865. Township officials in attendance included Municipal Clerk Linda Donnelly, Police Chief John Cook, Fire Administrative Captain Michael Mastroeni, Fire Captain Marc Corea, Fire Captain Victor Kostin, Emergency Management Coordinator Scott Seidel, and Director of Recreation Adam Lieb.