WASHINGTON, DC—This year, the Forest Service observed Juneteenth by traveling to Wilmar, Arkansas, to honor former enslaved people who migrated to and settled in the area to begin new lives. We also sought to hear individuals share their family experiences about this national holiday.

Wilmar is a majority-black town in western Arkansas with a population of just over 500. The town has celebrated Juneteenth since 1888—11 years before the city was incorporated in 1899. Former residents return home for family reunions and to help celebrate the freedom of their ancestors.

Wilmar is located within two hours of several national forests:  the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests, Ouachita National Forest, and the National Forests of Mississippi.

Listen to these stories in the video above from the agency's June 13 event, introduced by Associate Chief Angela Coleman.