Pioneer traditions
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Thousands of spectators cheered and clapped as Days of '47 Parade entries — boasting variations of the theme "Pioneer Traditions — Bridges to Our Future" — moved along the streets of downtown Salt Lake City July 24.
Local city and county officials, religious leaders and royalty rode dozens of floats, horse-drawn carriages and convertible cars in the parade honoring the Mormon Pioneers of 1847.
As the grand marshal, President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, accompanied by his granddaughter, Sara Faust, rode near the front of the parade.
Twenty of the parade's 118 entries were organized by Church groups — a number of which won one or more awards for their floats.
Susan McHenry, Days of '47 Parade chairwoman, credits much of that success to the large amount of volunteer hours — literally thousands — donated by local Church members. "There are some very creative people," she said.
She called the parade a "great way to honor the original pioneers."
"It was very nice to see the diversity of the floats," she said. "Everyone takes the same theme and no two floats are the same."
Following is a list of Church-sponsored floats that won parade awards:
• North Salt Lake Utah Stake, "A Voice Bridging Families," Days of '47 Sweepstakes award.
• Hunter Utah Central Stake, "Bridging Cultures and Traditions," Theme award.
• Centerville Utah South Stake, "Seek Learning, Our Pioneer Tradition," Daughters of the Utah Pioneers award and People's Choice award.
• Salt Lake Park Stake, "Pioneer Values, Preserving for the Future," Outstanding Animation award.
• Sandy Utah Crescent North Stake, "Fishin — A Family Tradition," Children's Choice award.
• Taylorsville Utah West Stake, "Reaching the Valley, Reaching the World," Spirit of Faith award.
• Bountiful Utah North Stake, "Ancient Pioneers Lead, Modern Pioneers Follow," Legacy award.
• South Jordan Utah Stake, "Utah's Thirst for Education," Utah award.
E-mail to: sarah@desnews.com
