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!