Saga of the Sanpitch Volume 13, 1981 - Sanpete County

anticipating the events of the morrow. And then our heavy eyelids finally closed only to be abruptly awakened
by the first roar of the cannon heralding the crack of dawn and the arrival of the glorious fourth. We listened
with bated breath from that first loud rumble until the last echo faded away in the distance, only to be
repeated at 2 or 3-minute intervals for the next half hour.
Now dressed in our beautiful new dresses, black patent leather shoes, straw hats with a little floral
bouquet in front and a ribbon band that ended in streamers flowing down our backs, we hurried toward town,
our new shoes squeaking as we walked. We must not miss the 10 o'clock parade.
The streets were already lined with people when we reached Main Street. The stores all had their little
booths outside decorated in red, white and blue bunting, and were selling soda pop, ice cream cones, Mother
Goose popcorn, hamburgers, hot dogs, and candy. My sister and I each had 250 to spend. For what treat
should we part with our precious coins now clutched more tightly in our hands? The aroma of the hamburgers
was particularly enticing. With a hamburger we would still have a dime left over for something else, or should
we blow all our money on a prized banana split?
Now the parade was actually coming. We strained our necks to see between the people who were
standing in front of us.
The band was playing "The Stars and Stripes Forever." We could hear the sound of bugles and the fifes
and drums. First came the veterans of World War I marching three abreast, the one in the middle proudly
carrying Old Glory waving in the breeze, the two on the sides their bugles held high blowing out the tune. Now
the flag was passing us. Quickly our right hands moved up over our hearts, and we breathed a little deeper
and uttered a silent prayer and thanked God that we were Americans and citizens of this great land.
Now came the dignitaries, our town mayor and the members of the City Council, or the City Fathers as
they were often called, waving their hands profusely first to one side and then to the other to the bystanders
by the sides of the road.
Next came all the beautiful floats, each one vying for the coveted prize of First Place and the $15
reward. We watched with rapt attention as each one passed by us. One carried the Goddess of Liberty
standing on a raised platform just a foot higher than her two attendants, Miss Columbia and Miss Utah. How
beautiful Miss Liberty looked in her long white gown drawn in at the waist by a gold braided cord and her train
following behind, with her arm stretched high holding the golden torch.
Another float depicted the land the pioneers came to with its rough hills and sagebrush. Another
depicted the end of the Black Hawk War and the signing of the Peace Treaty. Then came the church floats
carrying Primary and Sunday School children, showing Utah's best crop. Then the Snow College float passed, a
slogan on its side saying, "The Fount of Truth and Knowledge since 1888."
On a brightly decorated float sat Uncle Sam on a box all dressed up in red, white and blue with his
stovepipe hat. What an impressive spectacle he made!
Now we see the buggies drawn by little ponies, their bridles all decked up in gay colors. Following the
buggies came the fringed-top carriages that carried the pioneers dressed in their native costumes: the women
in their long full skirts and tight fitting bodices with pretty ruffles around the neck and sleeves, the men
with their long white beards dressed in their dark suits and hats resting their hands on their pearl handled
canes. How proud we were of them.
Now came the brass band, the piano player jazzing it up as they played "Yankee Doodle." Last but not
least, the Indians and Cowboys passed by: the make-believe Indians all dressed up in their war paint and
native costume riding on ponies, their bows and arrows in their hands, and the cowboys riding on spirited
horses curried until their coats shone in the noon-day sun.
Then into the old Tabernacle to hear the special July 4 th program. The moment we entered the chapel
our eyes fell upon the pulpit all draped in red, white, and blue. From there our gaze traveled to the beautiful
white shining beams tied in bows of red, white and blue bunting. How beautiful it all looked! The Mayor
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