After my meetings this week I stuck around SLC for Pioneer Day and one of the biggest parades in the U.S. These people take their holiday seriously — the announcer said there were 111 entries in the parade and it lasted two hours. I was amazed at how many stakes and cities from around the Salt Lake Valley put together intricately decorated and mechanized floats. Float builder is not a church assignment we have in New York.
The biggest entry and the one that got everyone on their feet applauding was the servicemen and women marching through. The response from the crowd was touching.
The Samoan and Tongan communities brought floats, bands and dancers and were the most entertaining, they would stop marching and dance in the street.
Add in the horses, wagons, handcarts, bonnets, marching bands, three agencies of daredevil riding motorcycle cops, politicians, prophets (highly surrounded and difficult to see), beauty queens, antique cars, Taiwanese sister city dignitaries, clowns, plus the rodeo and fireworks before and after and it's a whole lot of fun. For outsiders it's a case study in taking pride in your community and heritage.
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