LEXINGTON, Ky. — On Saturday, African Cemetery No. 2 hosted the 18th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee. It's one of several events scheduled in Lexington to commemorate Juneteenth this year.

What You Need To Know

  •  The 18th Annual Juneteenth Jubilee at African Cemetery No. 2 took place on Saturday to honor the U.S. Colored Troops who are buried there

  •  So far 153 members of the U.S. Colored Troops have been discovered at the cemetery. New headstones have been erected with plans to receive more

  •  Yolanda Jackson played the viola for the ceremony and Dr. Alicestyne Turley, a historian and author, was the keynote speaker

  • This is just one of many events planned for Juneteenth in Lexington. The rest will be taking place next weekend

Yolanda Jackson was invited by Yvonne Giles, a researcher with the cemetery, to play the viola for the ceremony.

“She was telling me about this program here for the Juneteenth celebration and she said they’ve had all kinds of entertainers and wonderful people come and entertain during this celebration and then she said to me, ‘Would you come and play your viola for us?’ and I’m like, ‘Ms. Giles you’re one of them women that you can’t say no to,’” said Jackson.

There was a roll call for those buried at the cemetery.

“When someone passes, call their names,” said Giles. “Always remember them. These are our people. Walk through the cemetery, look at the names, and call them.”

To date, 153 members of the U.S. Colored Troops were discovered to have been buried at African Cemetery No. 2. The cemetery has received new headstones for several of the Colored Troops whose headstones needed a replacement.

“Like other individuals buried here, this represents a group of individuals who were important in Lexington’s history, important in Kentucky’s history,” said Mark Coyne, the chair of African Cemetery No. 2. 

Alicestyne Turley, a historian and author, said that 16,000 U.S. Colored Troops were sent to Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, including five regiments from Kentucky. Turley was the keynote speaker at the event. 

“There are 107 men in this cemetery, most of whom were assigned to enforce that right,” said Turley of those who were in regiments that had been dispatched to Texas. “That’s why you’re here today.”

Some in attendance were surprised, but pleased, to learn about these nuggets of history.

Jackson said it was a, “...wonderful program. I hope to come every year after this one. Not to perform or anything, but just to enjoy and to learn more about our history.”

This was the first of many Juneteenth celebrations taking place in Lexington, with several events happening next weekend. 

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