Show editorial department continued PIONEER DAY on july 1847 the first mormon pioneers entered the salt lake valley in their quest for a new home where they could obtain freedom for religious worship and escape oscap the persecutions that had been visited upon them in the east and middle west the history of the hardships dangers deprivations and death incident to the long wagon trap over a trackless and almost uncharted route with a city of food and all other essentials for such a strenuous trip is well known to all residents of utah and we can imagine the joy and thanksgiving that ascended to god f for or the termination of the trek and the prospects f for or peace and harmony security and prosperity in their new found haven in the fastnesses fast nesses of the rocky mountains the event was of such outstanding importance that the early territorial legislature designated july as a public holiday in utah and it has remained such ever since but the conception of a suitable observance of the day has undergone a great change from that of the early pioneers who experienced the trials and privations of pioneer days this change has been gradual and perhaps the majority of us have not paused to consider how far we haye have drifted from the original conception conceptio nand and intent indent sundays salt lake tribune carried a group picture of approximately pioneers of 1847 who assembled in the temple square in 1897 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of their arrival in the salt lake valley of this only iee I ee members were alive for the this year they are v 0 manolas lovina gibson andrus 96 of st george mrs mary A park brockbank 95 of salt lake city and mrs hulda cordelia thurston smith 92 of lewiston utah it is too late to do much for these pioneers of 1847 they have nearly all gone to their reward for a task we well I 1 done but there are other pioneers who are worthy 0 of recognition and consideration who deserve to be remembered and honored on pioneer day and whose physical comfort and security should be provided for the minds of these old people live largely in the past they like to get together and recall chapters from the vivid scenes of yesteryears yester years when they were young and vital full of confidence and courage willing to do and die if necessary to conquer the wilderness and make it habitable for those to follow and we should consider these facts and not entirely lose ourselves in the modern hurly burly hooten tooten carnival aspect of modern celebrations some of this appeals to the young people and attracts the crowds it is all right in its place but not to the exclusion of the tribute that is intended for and richly deserved by the pioneers this day was originated to honor |