By Stephen Schwendiman and Shane Bevell
stephen@newsroom.byu.edu
Crowds gathered in downtown Salt Lake City to cheer on the participants of the annual Days of '47 parade, 'Pioneer Memories -- Millennial Vision.'
Eric Vantilen, a spectator from Murray, said the 24th of July celebration reminds him of what the pioneers went through to get to Utah.
Vantilen said he and his friends camped out since 9:30 p.m. Sunday, July 23, to reserve their seats for the parade.
'It's great,' Vantilen said. 'I come every year.'
Vantilen said his favorite part of the parade are the bands. He said he likes them because they entertain rather than just drive by.
'It has always been on my list of things to do,' said Anja Baldree, 25, a senior from Idaho Falls, Idaho, majoring in nursing.
Baldree said it is great to celebrate Pioneer Day because it is unique to this area.
David Fawcett, a University of Utah student from Salt Lake City, said he had been saving his seat for the parade since 1 a.m.
'I haven't been since I was five and I'm here to spark some old memories,' he said.
Fawcett said his favorite part of the parade is the antique cars.
Those participating in the parade included: President Thomas S. Monson, member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Governor Michael Leavitt, Sen. Robert Bennett, Sen. Orrin Hatch and Miss Utah, Jami Palmer.
Palmer said the Days of '47 festivities signifies Utah's heritage and how far the state has come from its humble beginnings to the great and prosperous part of the nation it is today.
Floats, marching bands, horses, clowns and antique vehicles were all part of the parade.
Gaylen Atkinson, coordinator of the West Valley Stake float, said the parade means a lot of hard work and a lot of fun to him.
The West Valley Stake won two awards, Outstanding Animation and the Legacy Award, for its float.
It is history and celebration of where the pioneers were and where Utah is going, said Rodayne Esmay, designer of the West Valley Stake float.
The Sandy Central Stake won the Days of '47 Sweepstakes Award for best float.
Mike Farrington, designer of the Sandy Central Stake float, said the parade represents the sacrifice of the pioneers.
'This represents a massive voluntary group effort,' Farrington said.
The parade has existed since 1849, but the celebration has existed since the pioneers arrived in 1847, said Tim Christofferson, coordinator for the Days of '47 Parade.
Christofferson said he feels the parade gets a little better each year. He said he loves to see the people have a good time.
The parade began with a reenactment of the first July 24th celebration in 1849.
The reenactment included a procession of 24 young men, clothed in white, carrying a copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, followed by 24 young ladies carrying copies of the Bible and Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ.