Annamarie Swails is preparing for her lecture Saturday at Sand Ridge Nature Center about a historical figure. But the man she will discuss won't be someone obscure to her but rather close to her heart her great-great-grandfather, Stephen Atkins Swails, among the first black soldiers commissioned by the Union Army.

Swails will make her presentation at the South Holland center as part of its Juneteenth Day celebration, which commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas.

The center's event also will include interpretive hikes where the Underground Railroad passed. There also will be Juneteenth bingo and traditional crafts for youths, cabin tours and cultural artifacts on display, including a quilt from the Underground Railroad.

During Swails' lecture, she said she plans to discuss her family's background while highlighting Stephen Atkins Swails' contributions during and after his service as a lieutenant in the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, which Annamarie Swails said also was depicted in the movie "Glory."

"He was a man who was determined to do what he needed to do to help his people, and it's something I'm very proud of," said Swails, of Calumet City. "(Stephen) needed somebody to tell his story, and it ended up being me."

Swails was not always aware of her historical roots, but after she realized the impact her great-great-grandfather had from the Civil War until his death, she began her journey of sharing his history.

He was a soldier, as well as a lawyer and politician after the war, and Swails said she wants people to have a broad understanding of his accomplishments. Her presentations are opportunities to educate those who aren't familiar with his role in American history, and she said they are also a way of carrying on his legacy.

Gerald Porter Jr. / Daily Southtown

This year's Juneteenth Day celebration will be the third in which Swails, who has lived in Calumet City since 2009, is included in the celebratory event. Even though she did not know about Sand Ridge Nature Center's historical programs prior to her involvement, she said she cannot help but be impressed with their work.

"I was so blown away," Swails said. "For what they're doing, I really tilt my hat off to them. I've been telling a lot of people about what they do, and I'm just so proud of what they have to offer."

The 4-year-old Juneteenth Day event came as a result of the nature center's addition of its Underground Railroad program, and Sand Ridge Nature Center Director James Carpenter said its inclusion was an opportunity to interpret "tremendous history."

Carpenter added that most people believe slavery ended with Lincoln's 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, but it didn't completely end until June 19, 1865.

"We certainly wanted to commemorate the end of slavery in this country. We want to make people aware of the history," Carpenter said. "We need to remember the horrible things that happened, and we need to also recognize people's resilience."

Carpenter also said the event will provide the community with an educational experience and a chance to celebrate the importance of this chapter in American history.

"If we're going to tell the whole story of the founding and development of this country if we're going to cover the major events that occurred you can't do that without a story about the Underground Railroad and Juneteenth," Carpenter said.

gporterjr@tronc.com

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Sand Ridge Nature Center to host Juneteenth Day event, 'commemorate the end of slavery' - Chicago Tribune