June is sorta a ho-hum holiday month. Unlike the earlier Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Passover, St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day, Easter and Cinco De Mayo, June has had the reputation of launching the blah holiday period.
No wonder weddings have flourished during this 30-day month. Even its one biggie, Father’s Day, is sorta wonky, with dads being honored with ties.
But, wait! There’s still hope! In 2021, after Miss Opal Lee had walked her way a gillion miles to Washington D.C., in previous years trying to persuade officials to make Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday, President Joe Biden signed Senate Bill S. 475 making it the 11th federal holiday — Juneteenth National Independence Day.
As a result, on Monday, June 19, there will be no postal service or mail deliveries, and non-essential federal, state and city government offices will be closed for Juneteenth. And forget about bank brick-and-mortar service (ATMs know no holidays) and the stock exchanges, all of which will be out of action as well.
Still, don’t you just know that retailers, restaurants and movie theaters will be wide open for business.
* Photo credit: Skeeter Hagler