Pioneer Day Children's Parades

Every year as a youth, the Pioneer Day Children's Parade was something to look forward to.  This was usually celebrated on Primary Day close to the 24th of July.  Back then you had primary one day a week outside of Sunday meetings.  During the summer this meeting was held during the day, and when school was in session was held after school.  There was always an organized parade for the fourth.  Children would decorate their bikes or wagons up in pioneer style, or just in streamers.  Our usual get-up was a loin cloth.  My mother had sewed a loin cloth to shorts so they were modest, and then we would paint our faces with crayon.  That was how we participated in the Primary parade for many years.  We often had really short hair for the summer, so our entire costume was never very authentic.  I know Weldon escaped this costume by decorating his bike one year, but usually there was no escape.  My mom liked things organized, and Indian loin clothes were organized.
In Hyrum we would take the parade around a block.  Around the block in Hyrum is a half mile.  I also participated twice in Carbondale (Illinois).  Here there was a busy street in front of the church, so our parade was around the parking lot a couple of times.  Of course the Carbondale Branch had a smaller showing, but some years in Hyrum the parade would extend for half a block, although the roads were wide and the Primary organizers usually had us three or four across.  I don't remember singing any songs, but I am sure there was an opening while we waiting for more children to gather who might be running late.

Art I like: America's Art

America’s Art: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Theresa J. Slowik, Abrams, New York in association with Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2005.

This book of art very much reads like a history text.  It covers very briefly the history of the United States, from early settlers, the land, the fight for liberty, early farming, Westward expansion, the Civil War, the Rise of Industry, the cities, The renaissance, the Southwest, the Great Depression, folk art, WWII, and then our current state of being with the technology revolution. 

This is also good for a looking at book, with many different types of art.  I think I enjoyed the folk art best.  This book included early photography, modern photography, sculpture, painting and other mediums. 

Some of the favorites are:

“The Girl I left Behind Me” by Eastman Johnson

“Orion in December” by Charles Burchfield

A painting and statues of Thomas Jefferson, a painting of George Washington, and a bust of Abraham Lincoln. 

“Aurora Borealis” by Frederic Edwin Church (to some represented the end of the Civil War and God’s pleasure with the Union victory.

“Plate” black on black by Julian and Maria Martinez

Duckwater Shoshone Tribal School: Basketball Coach

My first year in Duckwater I helped out by coaching the basketball team for the K-8 schoold.  This was a joint team with kids from both the Duckwater County School and the Duckwater Tribal School.  We practiced in the Tribal gym.  We played Lund twice, Ely Junior High  School once, and a parochial school in Ely.  We played close in a couple games, but Ely Junior High really skunked us.  We improved through  the year however.  Some of the he kids on the  team were Chris and Stephen Powers, Willie Blackeye, Willie Morago Amy Halstead and Kathy Hanks.
We did have some problems with playing in a disciplined style and getting into s set pattern, but as we set more realistic goals during the year we felt OK about the way things turned out.  We especially had problems with pressure and controlling the ball.  We lacked a good guard or a way to break a press.  The second year I was in Duckwater their were less kids of playing age and less interest so we didn't field a team.

July Fourth in Hyrum for the Big Celebration

Growing up in Hyrum, we participated in numerous July Fourth Celebrations.  I remember when I participated in Hyrum Little League, that we were often lined up and marched down Main Street as part of the parade.  Everyone would be in their uniform.  Walking a mile or more was hard back when you were young.  A highlight of the parade was the Sky View Marching Band when I was growing up.  Mountain Crest High School was not yet built.  Sometimes the Logan Band would also participate.  Floats were all home made, and usually on a trailer behind a vehicle.  Sometimes they were sponsored by wards and I remember helping with decorating some.  The parade has always had lots of horses.  And with horses come popper scoopers.  I think Weldon worked one year as a pooper scooper.  These were usually young men.
But the parade didn't start our day.  The day would start with Dad hauling us kids down to Hyrum Square where the Lion's Club would offer a Chuck Wagon breakfast as a fund raiser.  I loved those, and I can still taste the pancakes and butter and syrup.  It was a big feed which would take place under the covered pavilion by the big outdoor fireplace.
After breakfast, then we would head home before heading to the parade.  Usually we would line up to watch the parade close to our home.  We never saved spots, and sometimes regretted that when we didn't get a good place to watch the parade.  However there was usually someplace we could fit in. Dianna was in the parade one year, riding on a float.  This was probably about 1969.
After the parade there were activities by the Square.  We would watch the parade and then drive down to get there more quickly.

This picture isn't from the parade, but it shows our uniforms form the days we would have been in the parade or played on the Square.

As a youth we often participated in an Independence Day baseball game.  I know Weldon and played in games when we were young, and then we participated by coaching.  We would make sure there was a team coming to play us that day, and there were some good games.  These were mostly Little League games.  The game would usually start about 2 p.m. so it wouldn't interfere with other activities.  It just wasn't Independence Day without a good ball game.  Usually we played without spectators, but this day allowed us to play in front of people.
Hyrum usually had fireworks.  I remember one year they were over the lake.  They have also been presented at the Square.  There was also often a youth dance which was fun when we were a bit older.
In the days when I was growing up, we usually didn't have runs.  I know a run from the canyon, as well as a mile run down Main Street have become popular.

Fourth of July Songs

Break out in song at your fireworks celebration this year:
I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy by George M. Cohan

I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy

A Yankee Doodle, do or die

A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam

Born on the Fourth of July

I've got a Yankee Doodle sweetheart

She's my Yankee Doodle joy

Yankee Doodle came to London

Just to ride the ponies

I am the Yankee Doodle Boy

Kids Version of Yankee Doodle:

Yankee Doodle went to town

A-riding on a pony

He stuck a feather in his hat

And called it macaroni

Chorus

Yankee Doodle, keep it up

Yankee Doodle dandy

Mind the music and the step

and with the girls be hand!

Father and I went down to camp
Along with Captain Gooding
And there we saw the men and boys
As thick as hasty pudding.

Chorus

And there was Captain Washington
And gentle folks about him
They say he's grown so tarnal proud
He will not ride without them.

Chorus

God Bless America

God Bless America, 
Land that I love. 
Stand beside her, and guide her 
Thru the night with a light from above. 
From the mountains, to the prairies, 
To the oceans, white with foam 
God bless America, My home sweet home.

"Proud To Be An American"

If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife.
I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here today,
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can't take that away.

And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.
And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God bless the U.S.A.

From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee,
across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea,

From Detroit down to Houston and New York to LA,
Well, there's pride in every American heart,
and it's time to stand and say:

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.
And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God bless the U.S.A.

The Star Spangled Banner 

Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light  What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?  Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,  O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?  And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,  Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.  Oh, say does that star­spangled banner yet wave  O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave? 

 

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,  Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,  What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,  As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?  Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,  In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:  ‘Tis the star­spangled banner! Oh long may it wave  O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!  

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore  That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,  A home and a country should leave us no more!  Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.  No refuge could save the hireling and slave  From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:  And the star­spangled banner in triumph doth wave  O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!  

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand  Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!  Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land  Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.  Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,  And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”  And the star­spangled banner in triumph shall wave  O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!