Durham, N.C. – In honor of the federally recognized holiday Juneteenth, the third annual North Carolina Official Juneteenth Flag-Raising Ceremony will take place on Monday, June 2, 2025, outside the Durham County Courthouse (510 S. Dillard Street). The event is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m., and the flag-raising will take place at approximately 12 p.m.

The NC Official Juneteenth Flag-Raising Ceremony, hosted by Spectacular Magazine, the Triangle Cultural Awareness Foundation, and Durham County Government, is free and open to all. It is not just a public event but a community gathering. The Juneteenth Flag Raising at the Durham County Courthouse has become a tradition that marks the beginning of North Carolina’s month-long celebration of Black freedom and excellence. The event unites civic leaders, cultural contributors, and community members to honor the journey from enslavement to emancipation.

This year marks the fourth year since Durham County Government officially recognized Juneteenth as a County holiday. This ceremony is the third year Durham County Government has raised the Juneteenth flag, symbolic of the nationwide celebration and the kick-off of the Annual 20th NC Juneteenth Celebration in Durham scheduled on Saturday, June 21.

The nationally recognized Juneteenth holiday for 2025 is Thursday, June 19. Most Durham County Government offices will close on that day in observance.

During the event on June 2, the Montford Port Marines will hoist the Juneteenth flag alongside Durham County Sheriff’s Honor Guards, a symbolic act that carries the weight of history. The Montford Port Marines were the first African Americans to serve in the United States Marine Corps. Trained between 1942 and 1949 in segregated facilities at Montford Point in Jacksonville, North Carolina, more than 20,000 Black Marines paved the way for military integration and civil rights progress. Their presence at this year’s ceremony connects Juneteenth to another critical chapter in the Black American freedom story.

Durham County Sheriff Clarence F. Birkhead, Durham County Manager Claudia Hager, and City of Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams will welcome attendees. Rod Carter, anchor for CBS 17, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.

Attorney Larry Hall, former Secretary of North Carolina’s Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, will preside over “The Juneteenth Story” portion of the Ceremony. This portion will include the public reading of the three Freedom Documents (Emancipation Proclamation, 13th Amendment, General Order #3) by Durham City Manager Bo Ferguson, Durham County Commissioner Wendy Jacobs, and Sheriff Birkhead.

There will also be a musical performance by Dr. Charity Godfrey Davis.

Closing remarks will be delivered by Phyllis Coley, NC Juneteenth State Director under the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF), the organization responsible for legislation that culminated in Congress passing and President Joe Biden signing the Juneteenth National Independence Day Bill on June 17, 2021. Continuing to provide proper context and narrative of Juneteenth National Independence Day is a primary objective of the NJOF.

Community members and visitors will be able to view the official Juneteenth Flag flying from June 2-19 at the Durham County Courthouse, leading up to the holiday's annual celebrations across the country.

“It is an honor to witness the Juneteenth flag rise over Durham — now for the third consecutive year – as part of our 20th Annual NC Juneteenth Celebration,” said Coley. “This tradition holds deep cultural meaning for our community. I am especially grateful to the Durham County Government and the Durham County Sheriff’s Office for their continued support. Raising the flag on the first Monday in June gives us a moment to center our celebrations in remembrance, pride, and unity. It serves as a visual reminder of the resilience, sacrifice, and enduring spirit of Black Americans.”

For more information on the NC Juneteenth Celebration, visit www.spectacularmag.com/juneteenth.

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