On June 19, Virginia will see the first steps of a new celebration for the Commonwealth.

Juneteenth, which celebrates the day in 1865 when enslaved black people in Galveston, Texas, learned of the Union victory in the Civil War and their free- dom, will be a paid state holiday this week for executive branch offices, Gov. Ralph S. Northam announced Tuesday, with plans to make it official statewide next year.

“We are changing what we honor in Virginia,” the governor said a news conference, where he was joined by singer-songwriter-producer Pharrell Williams, a Virginia Beach native, and many of the ranking African-American state lawmakers.

“It’s time we elevate Juneteenth ...,” he said. “It finally shut the door on the enslavement of African-American people. And while it did not end racism, black oppression or violence, it is an important symbol. By commemorating it, we push people to think about its significance. It says to black communities this is not just your history, it is everyone’s shared history.”

Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney also later announced on Tuesday that the City of Richmond will begin recognizing Juneteenth as a paid holiday for city workers this Friday.

“I urge everyone to use this day as an opportunity for reflection, service and healing,” Mayor Stoney said in a statement.

Juneteenth is the oldest known commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States.

If approved by the state legislature, Virginia would become the second state in the nation to recognize Juneteenth as an official state holiday, following Texas in 1980.

In previous years, the governor noted, Virginia recognized Juneteenth with an annual proclamation. Commemorations were left up to local communities.

Janine Bell, president and artistic director of the Elegba Folklore Society in Richmond, which is hosting its 25th annual Juneteenth celebration this year, stood behind the governor as he made the announcement.

Also present for the announcement were Dr. Lauranett L. Lee, a University of Richmond professor who served on Mayor Stoney’s MonumentAvenue Commission to recommend what should be done with the city statues honoring Confederates; Delegate Lamont Bagby of Henrico, chairman of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus; Sen. Louise Lucas of Portsmouth, president pro temp of the Senate; Sen. Mamie Locke of Hampton, Senate Democratic Caucus leader; Delegate Charniele Herring of Northern Virginia, House majority leader; and Speaker of the House Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn of Northern Virginia.

The proposal already has bipartisan support. In addition to support from the Democratic leaders who attended the news conference, GOP Delegate C. Todd Gilbert, the House minority leader, issued a statement expressing his support for a Juneteenth state holiday.

“July 4th is the birthday of our nation, but Juneteenth is the day where it truly began to fulfill its promise of freedom for all,” he stated.

Mr. Williams, who said he talked with Gov. Northam during the weekend about events, said the holiday has been “overlooked for so long.”

“This is our chance in Virginia to lead by example, to truly embrace the importance of Juneteenth,” he said, “and treat it as a celebration of freedom that black people deserve and the African diaspora deserves.”