Heritage celebration

AUBURN - The steady beat from an ensemble of percussion instruments, the echoes of feet stomping and hands slapping together, the voice of a storyteller and the enthusiasm from a group of fifth graders reverberated off the walls of East Middle School's auditorium Friday.

The Auburn Human Rights Committee and the Auburn Enlarged City School District celebrated Juneteenth Day Friday, a national annual celebration of the ending of slavery. While President Abraham Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, the news did not spread throughout all the states until 1865.

Sitting in East Middle School's auditorium, fifth graders from all five of the district's elementary schools listened to percussion beats - which originated in Africa and became a musical staple of the slaves - belted out by East Assistant Principal Michael Hayden, district non-instructional staff member Bill Barlo and three students who helped out with the cowbell and two hollow garbage cans.