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On September 22nd, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves, but the news didn’t make its way to Florida until May 20th, 1865.

Wednesday in Tallahassee at the same house were the proclamation was read 144 years ago an actor dressed as a Union soldier reenacted the reading. Governor Charlie Crist attended the event and says the state and the nation has continued to build upon the example Lincoln set all those years ago.

“Lincoln embodied the greatness of America even though he did not live to see the passage of the 13th amendment to end slavery. While some in Florida oppose the ideas of freedom during Lincoln’s lifetime, I believe that our state and our nation can be enormously proud of the progress that we are making toward equality today,” said Crist.

Ancestors of former Florida slaves were on hand for the reenactment.