Public Speakers Encourage Community at Val Verde Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom

The 2025 Val Verde Juneteenth Celebration provided a safe space for community fellowship, said Pastor Paul Millsaps of the Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church. Pastor Paul helped organize the special event and remarked on the increased attendance this year as compared 2024. He described the invisible boundaries which normally keep people separated into small groups, saying he hopes the local success of Juneteenth encourages the whole community to come together more often.

Black and African American residents celebrated freedom at the Sidney Blanks Park in Del Rio on June 19, 2025. Event attendees sat family style at close-knit tables with old friends, new faces, elected leaders, and residents of every race. “I am super impressed with Del Rio. This is the first time I’m seeing it at a Juneteenth event… I’m speechless… It’s a beautiful turnout,” said Pastor Eddie Dilworth of First Baptist Church Carrizo Springs. 

Pastor Eddie was invited from out-of-town as main guest speaker and was asked to provide a word from God. He began: “We gather here not just for Juneteenth, not just Del Rio, but for the future of the world.” Pastor Eddie included words of encouragement and spoke directly to the hearts of the people. He said proudly, “You are a light to the world… Keep it up, Del Rio."

Pastor Paul told Del Rio News Network: “Events like this that make people feel safe, make people feel loved. Especially at this time when our politics are so off balance. You know, the immigrants are treated so badly and those of us who have the opportunity and have a platform, we need to spend more of our time talking about our issues. Not talking about the problems, but talking about going forward, we are constantly in the past, let's talk about what we can do together.”

Mayor Al Arreola made an appearance and speech; Councilperson Carmen Gutierrez was also spotted in the crowd. During Pastor Paul’s public address, he said: “Racism is real. It has not gone anywhere. It went away for a bit but it's rearing its ugly head again… We need to do more things for the people in our community. We need to start putting more action to our words."

Over 250 hotdogs and walking tacos were distributed for free to the community that day. They even had to run to the store and restock on drinks; the strawberry sodas were delicious. Pastor Paul said, “this made this community feel special today just by being here… everyone was so happy to come get a hot dog… so many people brought their children.” Celebration leaders were ecstatic to see young people in attendance and make everyone feel special, as the leadership team were mostly of retirement age.

Val Verde Juneteenth Association President, Roger Blank, is a member of the Sidney Blank family for whom the park was named. The Blank family has been highly regarded in Val Verde County for generations, exemplified by Sidney’s prolific NFL career in the 1960s as running back for the Houston Oilers and New England Patriots. Roger Blank was ill and unable to join the celebration but was represented by Vice President James Bass.