Youth parade: 'Pioneer Spirit — Then and Now'
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Children in the South Salt Lake Stake represent many different cultures and speak many languages. So when Donna Wagstaff was asked to create a float for the Days of ‘47 Youth Parade, her mind turned to something that they all share: music.
“We didn’t know how to connect them because they can’t speak to each other,” said Sister Wagstaff, standing in front of the float titled, “United in Song.”
The float was decorated with musical notes, wooded dolls representing different cultures and signs containing the languages common in the stake — English, Spanish, Karen and Nepali.
As the children moved along the parade route in matching white T-shirts, they used American sign language to communicate the words to some songs. Signing the words is something they can all do together, said Sister Wagstaff.
They were some of the more than 5,000 children who participated in the parade July 17. Now the largest youth parade in the nation, the Days of ‘47 Youth Parade started in 1943.
Jodene Smith, parade co-chair, said 20 LDS stakes sponsored floats in the parade, all centered on the theme, “Pioneer Spirit — Then and Now.”
The four-block parade route started in downtown Salt Lake City at 600 East and 500 South and ran west on 500 South to 200 East, ending at the City and County Building.
By participating in the parade and doing something to honor the pioneers, children “remember the pioneers a little better,” she said.
Floats created by various stakes along the Wasatch front honored the pioneers in creative ways.
The Salt Lake Holladay North Stake, for example, used the theme, “Painting with the Pioneer Spirit.” Dozens of children followed the float wearing white painters’ coats.
And the Centerville Utah Canyon View Stake’s float was centered on the theme, “Catching the Spirit of Your Journey.” The float was covered with cute bugs. Children walked behind the float carrying bug-catching nets.
David E. Young, president of the South Salt Lake Stake, said his stake’s float represented a huge efforts by numerous stake members. “The whole thing has just been heartwarming,” he said, speaking of the volunteers and the countless children touched by the project.
