Many offices closed Friday in observance of Juneteenth holiday

PEORIA, Ill. –Friday is Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day. 

The federal holiday commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the U-S. 

It marks the date in 1865 when news of the abolition of slavery finally reached Galveston, Texas, over two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. 

All Federal and State offices, as well as banks and the post offices are closed in recognition of the holiday.