The Age of Elegance

       Photo, Courtesy Sherri McGhie, MSNJSA'15 The Juneteenth Celebration, a popular African-American holiday, was observed across the United States over the past weekend.  Dorothy Johnson, MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA 2021, participated in the Cherry Hill Parade on Saturday.  Juneteenth has been celebrated since 1866, but despite its popularity, it never received national recognition.  That all changed, however, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, on June 15, 2021, and that the date of its observance will remain as June 19th.  The first celebration of Juneteenth dates back to 1866, and originated in Galveston, Texas.  Although President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which ended institutional slavery, the law took time to enforce in all States.  Such was the case in Texas, where due to a low presence of Union troops, enforcement there was slow,...

After a year's hiatus due to the corona virus pandemic of 2020, Johanne Santori, CHAIRMAN, and Members of the Board of MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA, INC., decided to hold the MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT 2021. During the past year, restrictions prohibiting large group gatherings were lifted, and this enabled the Board's decision to continue the tradition of a live PAGEANT.  The event was held at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Toms River on June 3rd. There was an air of relief and joy, as people filled the Grand Ballroom to capacity for the afternoon event, because for the first time, they had a choice of whether or not to wear a mask.                                                        ...