Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich joined county officials, community leaders and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on Friday morning to kick off the annual Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival at Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda.
The event, commemorates Juneteenth, the federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States. The festival celebrates African American history, culture and resilience while honoring the legacy of the Scotland community.
“The people who built this community did it despite enormous barriers and despite a society that was often working against them.” Said Marc Elrich during his address to the audience.
“The story is one of perseverance, determination and faith and is often a reminder that freedom did not automatically bring equality.” Elich added.
What some county councilmembers said about Juneteenth
Councilmember Andrew Friedson joined the celebration, calling Juneteenth a time to honor the past and renew a commitment to the future.
“Today on Juneteenth, we celebrate, we reflect and we recommit,” Friedson said. “We recommit in Scotland.”
Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles reflected on the significance of the holiday and her place in Montgomery County history.
“We can close our eyes for a moment and feel how our ancestors felt that morning when the sheriffs came and told them, ‘You’ve been free,’” Sayles said.
Sayles, the first Black woman elected to countywide office in Montgomery County, added, “I am that legacy of those ancestors.”
Councilmember Will Jawando also recognized the descendants of the families who built the Scotland community.
“To every descendant on this ground today who can stand here and say, ‘My people built this place,’” Jawando said, acknowledging the generations whose contributions helped shape the community and Montgomery County.
Keynote remarks by Maryland Governor Wes Moore
Maryland Governor Wes Moore told attendees that Juneteenth is both a celebration and a call to action.
“On Juneteenth, on Freedom Day, we know this is a celebration,” Moore said. “But we also know that freedom remains an elusive term. Ending chattel slavery and ending the transatlantic slave trade were important moments of liberation, but liberation is not freedom.”
Moore said the work of achieving true freedom requires continued effort and remembrance.
“The work of repair is making sure we never forget the legacy of Mr. Dove, his family, our ancestors and the legacy of their descendants,” he said.
Moore highlighted the history of William Dove, a formerly enslaved man who became one of the first Black landowners in the Potomac area.
Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival organizers said the festival has become one of the largest Juneteenth celebrations in Maryland, attracting thousands of residents from across the region. The event featured live music, cultural performances, historical exhibits, food vendors and family activities.
