Watch out! No letters will be sent by the USPS (United States Postal Service) on the 19th of June. It will be a difficult situation for American citizens because it affects one of the most used public services in the United States, the post office. This is the date when all post offices will have a temporary closure due to a federal holiday.
Sometimes, public services temporary closure is very confusing for citizens, but this is for a good reason. Juneteenth is the holiday celebrated every 19 of June to honor the end of slavery in the U.S. In case you don’t know about this day, let’s explain about the origin of this and what’s happening with the USPS.
USPS
The USPS (United States Postal Service) started in 1775 and it has become a very important public service in the U.S. It is the one in charge of the post office for every American citizen. Among their tasks they have to deliver letters and packages to houses, offices,etc, and offer their services at their post offices.
Basically, the USPS delivers your online purchases and letters anywhere you indicate them.
Save the date!
The 19th of June of 2025 (and of every single year) is when the USPS will stop its services, they won’t even open their post offices. Why? Because on this day Juneteenth is celebrated to commemorate an important event in the history of the United States.
Don’t worry, if you are expecting a package or something and companies like UPS, FedEx and Amazon are in charge of delivering it, you will receive it. These are the companies that will continue their normal work schedule on this federal holiday.
Juneteenth, the federal holiday
The holiday’s name comes from the date the historical event happened, June nineteenth. On this day of 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce slaves were free.
It is true Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, but not every state was aware of this after two years later. That’s why Juneteenth is also known as the second Independence Day of the United States.
Talking about recent times, in 2021, Joe Biden implemented a law to make Juneteenth an official federal holiday.
What services could you use on the 19th of June?
Of course, not every service will have a temporary closure on this day because that would be a nightmare for the country. This is why some services are available even though it is a federal holiday.
We mentioned the USPS won’t pick up nor deliver any regular mail and their post offices will be closed. Unfortunately, other services are joining this temporary closure like banks (Wells Fargo, Chase, Citibank, etc) and you could only access your bank accounts through the online apps or ATMs.
More services? Yes, government offices like Social Security, public schools, DMVs and libraries too. Oh, and waste collection services may dela, so don’t panic if you see a mountain of trash on the streets.
Juneteenth celebration
I’m sure you will forget about this USPS and other public services temporary closure once you experience the Juneteenth festivity. It is about sharing memories and stories about the fight for freedom and equality.
What’s more, you can see colorful parades, music and traditional food on the streets. This day is also a good option to learn about Afro-American history through educational events.
Give it its importance
I know it is a pain in the neck when specific places you need are closed, but this is for a good reason. It is paramount to attach importance to history and remember the efforts past generations did to get their rights, the ones we are making use of today.
