Prayer, Song And History Part Of Warsaw’s Juneteenth Event
June 20, 2020 at 3:59 a.m.
Prayer, Song And History Part Of Warsaw’s Juneteenth Event
By David [email protected]
Juneteenth celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States. It originated in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, when the last slaves in the country learned they had been emancipated. Friday’s event in Warsaw was organized by Sara Strahan and ONE Warsaw.
“We all know that with all the recent events and activities that happened throughout the world that we (need) to take a moment of prayer and have a moment of silence,” Strahan said in her introductory remarks.
Attorney Travis McConnell, president of ONE Warsaw, read a couple statements. The first was from the Warsaw Indian community, which included a prayer of peace.
The second statement was from the Temple Israel of Valparaiso, which said, in part, “On May 25, our country witnessed a despicable act of violence, the murder of an innocent black man, George Floyd, by a brutal white police officer, who brought dishonor to his badge and uniform. It was very difficult to watch without pain and anger.” According to Jewish belief, “we are all brothers and sisters, who were created in the image of God,” the statement continues. “According to our belief, when God created Adam, he took clay from all four corners of the world and mixed them. Therefore, we all must be treated the same: with respect, equality and dignity.” The Temple’s statement also pointed out that, “Let us not forget that the vast majority of our police officers are good and decent men and women who risk their lives to protect all of us.” The statement concluded with a prayer.
After a moment of silence for those whose lives were lost, Pastor Denny Bollenbacher, of New Beginnings Community Church, said there’s always hope and, “I truly believe that we’ve come a long way, right here in Kosciusko County. And I think that we need to keep remembering them in prayer – our leaders – and we need to challenge them to do the right thing. They’ve been carried away with money, and we don’t want to live by money. We want to live by the power of the Lord.” He then offered a prayer.
The Rev. Walter Johnson, the associate pastor of New Beginnings, read from Galatians, chapter 3, verses 26-28. “We are all sons of God. Through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you all one in Christ Jesus,” the scripture says.
After a portion of the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” played, speaker Joe Banks provided the history behind the Juneteenth celebration. He said while U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, which freed the slaves in the rebellious slaves, the news didn’t get to Texas until over two years later, on June 19, 1865. The slaves there were the last to get the news and be freed.
“June 19 was contracted to Juneteenth, and that’s what we celebrate today,” Banks concluded.
Next up was retired Leesburg Elementary School teacher Marsha Cook. She started by reading the poem “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou. The poem focuses on how to rise above difficulty and discouragement.
Cook talked about how she grew up in Tennessee and northern Indiana during the time of segregation.
“It was really disturbing to see, in public buildings, posted signs, colored in white, above the restrooms and water fountains. I was to use the one labeled ‘colored,’” Cook recalled. “A grocery store owner called my mother a mamie. That was not necessary.”
Their neighbors, who happened to be white, were friendly and she played games with some of the children in those families. “But we could not attend the same school together because the schools were segregated,” Cook said. While the white children rode the bus to school, Cook had to walk.
“Those were difficult times, and I knew the importance of family and faith,” she said. “My parents and grandparents continued to guide and protect me. Did I listen? Yes, most of the time I did, because respect was very important.”
Both her parents were college graduates and accomplished, successful educators. Cook followed in their footsteps and became a teacher after completing high school early and completing Tennessee State University – a predominantly black university – early. Her senior year, a recruiter from Fort Wayne was at TSU because Fort Wayne was integrating its staff, and Cook took a job teaching in Fort Wayne, as did her father at a different Fort Wayne school.
Everything went well until they looked for a home to purchase for the family. The neighbors broke out every window of the first home they were interested in because they didn’t want them there. Her mother decided it wouldn’t be safe for the family in Fort Wayne. Meanwhile, Marsha met Jack Cook and they were married. Her father died at 44 and it was a major adjustment for the entire family, but they relied on their faith and family.
Jack and Marsha had their first child and Marsha was a stay-at-home mom for a time. She got a job in the billing office at Murphy Medical Center in Warsaw, which was where the former Marsh building on Buffalo Street is now. Her heart wanted to teach so she applied for a job at Warsaw. The first superintendent wasn’t too sure what the community would think if he hired her, a black educator. She got a job teaching reading at several different schools – not what she wanted, she wanted a classroom – but she took the job. That summer, the superintendent’s health failed and he had a heart attack. A new superintendent was hired and, without hesitation, he hired Cook at Leesburg as Warsaw was consolidating the community schools.
“My teaching career began. I was in the basement, but that was the only space for a classroom. Everything was crowded,” Cook recalled, but the children learned anyway. By the time Cook had her second child, “I did rise. I was on the second floor,” she said.
Leesburg was like family to her and she stayed there for over four decades.
“When you believe you can, you’ll discover that even though the world may not be easy, faith can lift you above the rushing tides and give you wings you never knew you had,” she said.
McConnell then introduced Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert who told Cook, “Marsha, on behalf of Warsaw Community Schools, on behalf of my family, thank you. You know, every community has civil rights pioneers. You are one in our schools, you are one in our community. I thank you. I applaud you.”
Hoffert then talked about Antietam Creek and how that was the beginning of the Emancipation Proclamation. “It was the bloodiest one day in our nation’s history.” As that was going on, Abraham Lincoln was waiting for a Union win to announce the Proclamation.
The evening finished with a speech by Dudley Allen, a prayer by Father Ryan Fischer of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church and a lighting of candles as Charles Cotton, from Nappanee, played “We Shall Overcome” on the saxophone.
Juneteenth celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States. It originated in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, when the last slaves in the country learned they had been emancipated. Friday’s event in Warsaw was organized by Sara Strahan and ONE Warsaw.
“We all know that with all the recent events and activities that happened throughout the world that we (need) to take a moment of prayer and have a moment of silence,” Strahan said in her introductory remarks.
Attorney Travis McConnell, president of ONE Warsaw, read a couple statements. The first was from the Warsaw Indian community, which included a prayer of peace.
The second statement was from the Temple Israel of Valparaiso, which said, in part, “On May 25, our country witnessed a despicable act of violence, the murder of an innocent black man, George Floyd, by a brutal white police officer, who brought dishonor to his badge and uniform. It was very difficult to watch without pain and anger.” According to Jewish belief, “we are all brothers and sisters, who were created in the image of God,” the statement continues. “According to our belief, when God created Adam, he took clay from all four corners of the world and mixed them. Therefore, we all must be treated the same: with respect, equality and dignity.” The Temple’s statement also pointed out that, “Let us not forget that the vast majority of our police officers are good and decent men and women who risk their lives to protect all of us.” The statement concluded with a prayer.
After a moment of silence for those whose lives were lost, Pastor Denny Bollenbacher, of New Beginnings Community Church, said there’s always hope and, “I truly believe that we’ve come a long way, right here in Kosciusko County. And I think that we need to keep remembering them in prayer – our leaders – and we need to challenge them to do the right thing. They’ve been carried away with money, and we don’t want to live by money. We want to live by the power of the Lord.” He then offered a prayer.
The Rev. Walter Johnson, the associate pastor of New Beginnings, read from Galatians, chapter 3, verses 26-28. “We are all sons of God. Through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you all one in Christ Jesus,” the scripture says.
After a portion of the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” played, speaker Joe Banks provided the history behind the Juneteenth celebration. He said while U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, which freed the slaves in the rebellious slaves, the news didn’t get to Texas until over two years later, on June 19, 1865. The slaves there were the last to get the news and be freed.
“June 19 was contracted to Juneteenth, and that’s what we celebrate today,” Banks concluded.
Next up was retired Leesburg Elementary School teacher Marsha Cook. She started by reading the poem “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou. The poem focuses on how to rise above difficulty and discouragement.
Cook talked about how she grew up in Tennessee and northern Indiana during the time of segregation.
“It was really disturbing to see, in public buildings, posted signs, colored in white, above the restrooms and water fountains. I was to use the one labeled ‘colored,’” Cook recalled. “A grocery store owner called my mother a mamie. That was not necessary.”
Their neighbors, who happened to be white, were friendly and she played games with some of the children in those families. “But we could not attend the same school together because the schools were segregated,” Cook said. While the white children rode the bus to school, Cook had to walk.
“Those were difficult times, and I knew the importance of family and faith,” she said. “My parents and grandparents continued to guide and protect me. Did I listen? Yes, most of the time I did, because respect was very important.”
Both her parents were college graduates and accomplished, successful educators. Cook followed in their footsteps and became a teacher after completing high school early and completing Tennessee State University – a predominantly black university – early. Her senior year, a recruiter from Fort Wayne was at TSU because Fort Wayne was integrating its staff, and Cook took a job teaching in Fort Wayne, as did her father at a different Fort Wayne school.
Everything went well until they looked for a home to purchase for the family. The neighbors broke out every window of the first home they were interested in because they didn’t want them there. Her mother decided it wouldn’t be safe for the family in Fort Wayne. Meanwhile, Marsha met Jack Cook and they were married. Her father died at 44 and it was a major adjustment for the entire family, but they relied on their faith and family.
Jack and Marsha had their first child and Marsha was a stay-at-home mom for a time. She got a job in the billing office at Murphy Medical Center in Warsaw, which was where the former Marsh building on Buffalo Street is now. Her heart wanted to teach so she applied for a job at Warsaw. The first superintendent wasn’t too sure what the community would think if he hired her, a black educator. She got a job teaching reading at several different schools – not what she wanted, she wanted a classroom – but she took the job. That summer, the superintendent’s health failed and he had a heart attack. A new superintendent was hired and, without hesitation, he hired Cook at Leesburg as Warsaw was consolidating the community schools.
“My teaching career began. I was in the basement, but that was the only space for a classroom. Everything was crowded,” Cook recalled, but the children learned anyway. By the time Cook had her second child, “I did rise. I was on the second floor,” she said.
Leesburg was like family to her and she stayed there for over four decades.
“When you believe you can, you’ll discover that even though the world may not be easy, faith can lift you above the rushing tides and give you wings you never knew you had,” she said.
McConnell then introduced Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert who told Cook, “Marsha, on behalf of Warsaw Community Schools, on behalf of my family, thank you. You know, every community has civil rights pioneers. You are one in our schools, you are one in our community. I thank you. I applaud you.”
Hoffert then talked about Antietam Creek and how that was the beginning of the Emancipation Proclamation. “It was the bloodiest one day in our nation’s history.” As that was going on, Abraham Lincoln was waiting for a Union win to announce the Proclamation.
The evening finished with a speech by Dudley Allen, a prayer by Father Ryan Fischer of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church and a lighting of candles as Charles Cotton, from Nappanee, played “We Shall Overcome” on the saxophone.
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