Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Father’s Day on Sunday, and the Juneteenth holiday this Monday, adds up to a three-day weekend in the territory. And making it more festive is the 2023 graduation season over the last two weeks with Tafuna High School’s commencement excise today — the last in line of the territory’s high school graduations.

Through a June 12 memorandum, Gov. Lemanu P. S. Mauga declared that Juneteenth Independence Day on Monday June 19, will be observed as a holiday in American Samoa.

This year, marks the third time that American Samoa has marked this federal holiday, first declared two years ago by U.S.. President Joe Biden, followed by the governor’s official declaration.

The Associated Press previously reported that Juneteenth commemorates the events of June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas — some 2 1/2 years after U.S President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had freed slaves in Southern states.

In his memo, Lemanu points out that Juneteenth Independence Day is a time to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.

“I encourage you all to take time this weekend to remember our dark past and embrace the hope and progress that the present has brought us. We also honor all those who have died in pursuit of a more perfect union. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication,” the governor said.

Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata sent a message saying, “Juneteenth is a guidepost in our national history. The United States was founded on the ideals of liberty, but generations passed before these values were victorious.

“As stated in the Declaration of Independence, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. – That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.’ We are thankful to stand together to continue building on these lasting values, as part of a great nation dedicated to the cause of freedom.”

With the Monday holiday, all ASG offices will be closed and government employees required to perform duties on that day will receive holiday wages in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Some businesses will also be closed on Monday, including the local financial institution, while others in the private sector will operate normal hours.

The long-weekend includes Father’s Day, observed throughout the U.S. including American Samoa. Many churches will hold services dedicated to fathers, with some churches allocating special time during the service for fathers to perform skits, plays and songs.

Several ASG departments as well as some in the private sector held special luncheons on Friday for employees who are fathers. StarKist Samoa had their usually annual Father’s Day event, when workers who are fathers are treated to a feast by their co-workers.

In observance of the Juneteenth Independence Day holiday, Samoa News will not publish on Monday and our office will be closed. We will print on Tuesday, June 20.

Happy Father’s Day, a joyous Juneteenth and congratulations to the 2023 graduates.

Be safe — and Don’t Drink & Drive! Buckle Up!