Emancipation Day honors freeing of slaves

COLUMBUS -- Sept. 22 of each year would be designated "Emancipation Day" in the state, celebrating the day Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves, under a bill signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Bob Taft.
The new law, sponsored by state Rep. Sylvester Patton, a Youngstown Democrat, honors the anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862, which led to the freedom of slaves in the Confederate states.
According to Patton, the legislation stems from research done by students and a teacher at Washington Court House Senior High School in central Ohio. The research led state lawmakers to adopt resolutions in 2003 honoring the Black Brigade, a group of 700 black conscripts who helped defend Cincinnati from Confederates in 1862, Patton has said.
The Legislature approved the bill earlier this year.
The new law takes effect in about 90 days.