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Show President Hugh B. Brown delivers tribute to Mormon Battalion and dedicated monument at ceremony a Presidio Park, San SAN DIEGO, CALIF. figure of the Mormon Battalion, heroic in size and the devotion and suffering of 536 men who made the longest infantry march in history, stands in the Presidio Park at San Diego. Alone vsv V AT SV X'AV, vy The monument of a soldier, his gun on his shoulder, a pack on his back and a Book of Mormon in his hands, commissioned by the Sons of Utah Pioneers, was dedicated by President Hugh B. Brown, first counselor in the First Presidency on Nov. 22. The work of Edward J. Fraughton, the monument was presented to the city of San Diego by Eugene P. Watkins, president of the Sons of Utah Pioneers. It was accepted by Deputy Mayor Samuel T. Loftin. The SUP commissioned sculpting of the monument. Mr. Loftin thanked the people of Utah and paid tribute to the many hundreds who gathered on the hillside as one of the largest crowds for a ceremony of this type in San Diego. The monument shall always have an honorable place in this city which is now the second largest city in California, Mr Loftin said. President Brown brought greetings from President David then told of the 536 men who enlisted in the battalion at Council Bluffs and left for Ft. Levenvvorth on July 16, 1846. O McK iv and Sculptor Edward J. Fraughton signs autograph at San Diego. History records the march as long, difficult, and with unbelievable hardship. When the battalion finally reached California their appearance bore little resemblance to an Army ragged clothes, bare and bleeding feet, and extreme fatigue and hunger They were i"formed by couner that the war with Mexico had ended They then proceeded to San Diego and on Continued n Page H Elder Mark E. Petersen is greeted by San Diego youth during Mormon Battalion banquet. |