IT’S BEEN 156 YEARS SINCE PRESIDENT LINCOLN ISSUED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, GIVING THE ENSLAVED LIVING IN CONFEDERATE STATES THEIR FREEDOM. BUT, IT TOOK ALMOST TWO AND A HALF YEARS BEFORE THE NEWS REACHED TEXAS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WHEN IT DID THERE WAS IMMEDIATE JUBILATION AMONG THE ENSLAVED. THE EXCITEMENT AND OPTIMISM THAT CAME WITH FINALLY BEING FREE IS REMEMBERED ON JUNE 19TH OR JUNETEENTH - AND CELEBRATED IN COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY! OUR LISA GODLEY WAS ON HAND WHEN SOME SUFFOLK RESIDENTS TOOK TIME THIS WEEK TO REMEMBER THEIR ANCESTORS AND THE STRUGGLES AND SACRIFICES THEY MADE TO MAKE OUR DREAMS POSSIBLE.