Ellijay, Ga. – No official action has been taken by Gilmer County’s Board of Commissioners, but discussions over the 2023 Holidays came as the county mirrors the state holidays. In the July 2022 meeting, Chairman Paris said the county has been asked during some grant processes about the county’s holidays. Specifically, the county has been asked on its handling of Juneteenth.

Historically, Paris noted that the county “mimics state holidays” in order to maintain a similar schedule with court dates and other official functions. The state does recognize the holiday now.

The prevailing thought in the short discussion amongst the board was to simply continue the same Gilmer always has, following state holidays. This does mean, as pointed out in the meeting, that Gilmer will move from 12 to 13 holidays in its calendar.

With agreement from the board along that path, no action came in the county’s regular meeting. The board did not approve adding Juneteenth, instead allowing the policy to stay on as is. This, in turn, means that Gilmer County offices will close for Juneteenth in 2023 as it follows the state calendar adding one new holiday without replacing any others.

For those who don’t know, Juneteenth, as stated by the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), is representative of African American freedom from slavery. They state:

On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas. He informed the enslaved African Americans of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended. This momentous occasion has been celebrated as Juneteenth — a combination of June and 19 — for over 150 years.

Many other businesses and offices have already closed for the now-recognized holiday such as the North Georgia Health District who posted announcements of closing in mid June before the holiday’s arrival.