Post offices across the United States remained shuttered Thursday as the nation observed Juneteenth for the fifth consecutive year as a federal holiday, with most government offices also closing to commemorate the end of slavery in America.
The U.S. Postal Service suspended all mail delivery, retail operations, and post office box services on June 19, resuming normal operations Friday. Federal agencies including the Social Security Administration and Internal Revenue Service also closed their doors, while essential services like the National Weather Service continued operating.
The Federal Reserve System closure triggered widespread bank closures, with major institutions including Bank of America and Wells Fargo shutting branches, though ATMs and online banking remained available12. Stock markets also halted trading, with both the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange closed for the day23.
According to the Congressional Research Service, 28 states now recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday, meaning state workers in those jurisdictions received paid time off4. Texas pioneered state recognition in 1980, followed by Missouri in 2013 and Pennsylvania in 2019, with 25 additional states adopting the holiday since then4.
Most major retailers maintained normal Thursday hours despite the federal observance. Walmart, Target, and Costco operated regular schedules, while grocery chains including Kroger and H-E-B remained open12. Delivery services UPS and FedEx continued pickup and delivery operations, contrasting with the postal service shutdown32.
Some pharmacy chains adjusted operations, with most Walgreens pharmacies closing while stores stayed open, according to CNN reporting. CVS pharmacies generally remained operational4.
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce freedom for approximately 250,000 enslaved people, more than two years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation12. The holiday's name combines "June" and "nineteenth"3.
President Biden signed legislation establishing Juneteenth National Independence Day as a federal holiday in 2021, marking the first new national holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 19833. The designation followed renewed national attention to racial justice issues during the Black Lives Matter movement of 20203.
While corporate sponsorship for some Juneteenth events has reportedly decreased amid broader rollbacks of diversity initiatives, communities nationwide continue organizing celebrations, with New York City hosting its 16th annual festival this year3.
"All Americans can feel the power of this day, and learn from our history," Biden said at the 2021 White House signing ceremony3.
