Redlands Juneteenth Celebration & Unveiling of Memorial Honoring Israel Beal By John Coleman

Monumemt honoring Redlands’ early resident & builder, Israel Beal. Credit: John Coleman909 894-3070 Community Photography X (C P Time/s)

Curt Lewis presented a ‘Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition’ to the granddaughter of Israel Beal. Credit: John Coleman909 894-3070 Community Photography X (C P Time/s)

Redlands area officials, sponsors, & others includes: Curt Lewis, Representing Congress Member, Pete Aguilar; two members, Redlands City Council; James Ramos, Member San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, & candidate for election to Congress; Redlands Chief of Police; & Juneteenth Celebration Co-Chairs; Mario Saucedo, & Pastor Anthony Green. Credit: John Coleman909 894-3070 Community Photography X (C P Time/s)

County Supervisor, James Ramos awarded the County Board of Supervisors ‘Certificate of Recognition’ to the Second Baptist Church of Redlands. Pastor, Anthony Green received the ‘Award’ on behalf of the church. Credit: John Coleman909 894-3070 Community Photography X (C P Time/s)

Members of the Israel Beal family gathered around the Israel Beal Memorial. Credit: John Coleman909 894-3070 Community Photography X (C P Time/s)

REDLANDS, CA- A Juneteenth Celebration and unveiling of a Memorial honoring Israel Beal, a former slave,  who came to California and  bought  twenty acres of  land  in  Lugonia; next he purchased seventeen and one- half acres adjoining this, and then ten acres in Redlands. The Redlands property has since been traded for twenty acres adjoining the original purchase. Mr. Beal  was a builder and improved his land   and was one of the leading horticulturists. Mr. Beal was  honored this year at a  Juneteenth celebration.

Juneteenth also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, is an American holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas, and more generally the emancipation of enslaved blacks throughout the former Confederacy of the southern United States. Its name is a portmanteau of “June” and “nineteenth”, the date of its celebration. Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday or special day of observance in forty-five states.