Plaque memorializes Weirton Juneteenth celebration
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WEIRTON -- Almost two months ago, members of five Weirton churches came together to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday - established to commemorate the official end of slavery in the United States.
Members of those same churches once again gathered Tuesday night, this time to unveil a plaque commemorating the historical moment when Morning Star Baptist Church, Shiloh Apostolic Faith Assembly, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, St. Peter's AME Church, and Christ the King Family Worship Center became one.
"This is an historical moment," noted the Rev. James E. Brown, of Morning Star Baptist Church. "This is historic for the City of Weirton and all of us."
Tuesday's unveiling, which took place in the Weirton Room of the Millsop Community Center, stressed the importance of erasing divisions and coming together as one, with speakers pointing to the five churches joining efforts in forming the Weirton Ecumenical Council as a prime example of what can be done with a united front.
"There are many parts, but only one God," Brown emphasized.
The Rev. Rudy McAllister, pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church and the president of the Ecumenical Council, echoed those sentiments, offering thanks to Mayor Harold "Bubba" Miller, City Manager Mike Adams and Weirton Council, as well as the Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation and George Kondik of PS Marketing, for their contributions, both in supporting the Juneteenth celebration and the development of the plaque.
"It's not just a Black thing. It's not just a white thing. It's an everybody thing," McAllister said.
The plaque, made of a bronzed aluminum, features a photograph from the June 17, 2023 Juneteenth service, as well as pictures of members of each of the five founding churches within the Ecumenical Council and the council choir. It includes a brief description of the history and importance of Juneteenth, observed each year on June 19, and text from program from the Ecumenical Council's worship service.
It now hangs in the Weirton Room of the Millsop Community Center near the center's front doors.
Tuesday's dedication included performances by the Weirton Ecumenical Council Choir, a scripture reading by Bishop Dr. Darrell W. Cummings of Shiloh Apostolic Faith Assembly, a prayer offered by the Rev. Dr. Samuel Ware of St. Peter's AME Church, a solo performance by John Jackson, and a benediction from the Rev. Dr. Samuel Williams of Christ the King Family Worship Center.