Days of '47 Parade: "Pioneers — Building On The Dream!"

Utah's most celebrated parade hosted streets of eager observers Tuesday, July 24, as 113 entries and scores of parade participants marched in support of the state's pioneer heritage. With people from near and far gathering together in the annual jamboree, the Days of '47 Parade proved successful once again. Though sunshine hid behind clouds for most of the morning, floats of all shapes, sizes, colors and creations celebrated the Utah-native holiday by centering their focus around this year's Days of '47 theme: "Pioneers — Building on the Dream!"

Serving as this year's parade grand marshal was President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, who cheerfully waved to parade onlookers with his wife Kathleen by his side.

Accompanying President Eyring in representing the Church were many floats and parade entries constructed by local Latter-day Saint groups; 20 wards and stakes participated in the Pioneer Day parade and many won awards for having outstanding floats.

"People just are very creative," parade co-chair Jodene Smith said. "They're out of the box when they think of things."

With the Days of '47 parade theme in mind, floats emphasized remembrance of pioneer ancestors. "(The pioneers) had a dream for religious freedom and freedom in general," said Sister Smith. "Their dream was to find a place to accommodate that."

The South Jordan Daybreak Stake honored early European Latter-day Saints who triumphed over many trials to join Church members in the Salt Lake Valley and a float sponsored by the West Jordan Utah Heritage Stake paid tribute to Bingham Billy — the train that used to run through what is today West Jordan, Utah. That train is a symbol of "building on the dream," said Stacy Nelford, who served on Heritage Stake's float committee. "We still have the tracks," she said, noting that they are used by the Utah Transit Authority. The train is part of the history of West Jordan, she added. "It literally helped build up the dream we are living now."

Many floats also embraced Latter-day Saint values. Tammi Feist, co-chair of the South Jordan Daybreak Stake float committee, said at the heart of their efforts was the desire to help families learn to be happy. "The components of the float all deal with how can families most likely achieve success," she explained, noting that some of those include faith, prayer, forgiveness, repentance, and respect.

In addition, the entire float is "person powered," meaning a person has to move gears to make the decorations on the float come to life. So it is with the family, she said. "The family only works if all the members cooperate. ...

"It's the machinery of the family working together," she said. "Sometimes it breaks and you patch it up and put it back together."

With lots of glitter, parade walkers and cheering crowds, this year's parade was the largest in the last five years, Sister Smith said.

"In this day and age … (people) can still take the time out of the busy world and focus on where we started," she said adding that the parade's reminder of Utah's heritage has a lasting effect on church members and Utah residents through the entire year.

ajeppson@desnews.com