Pioneer Day Party July 24

The Utah State Society

Greg Korologos reports that the Utah State Society Pioneer Day party is scheduled for Tuesday, July 24, 2007.  More details will be announced soon.

Pioneer Day is a legal state holiday in Utah that celebrates the pioneers who settled in Salt Lake. The 24th is a huge holiday for Utahns, some argue it is more celebrated than even July 4th. There are more parades and fireworks displays during the celebrations than on the earlier July holiday celebrating the country's independence.

In 1847, a group of Mormon pioneers, led by Brigham Young, started a journey west in covered wagons and handcarts, determined to make a life. They began the journey because they were suffering religious persecution in southern Illinois. It is said that as Brigham Young gazed out on the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, he proclaimed "This is the Place".

Mormon Pioneers originally named the area "Deseret", but the name was officially changed to Utah when the new state joined the Union on Jan. 4, 1896 and was represented by the 45th star on the American flag.

Pictured above is Utah Cherry Blossom Princess and U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen Ann Higginbotham at the Grand Ball in 1992 after the wheel of fortune stopped on Utah. Also pictured is His Excellency Takakazu Kuriyama, Ambassador of Japan to the United States, who had just placed the famous Mikimoto Crown on Ann's head. The other U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen from Utah was Carol Burton in 1969.  Ann visited Japan twice in 1992 and did an outstanding job representing NCSS and our country. To join the Utah State Society in time for Pioneer Day on July 24, email Greg Korologos at gregkorol@comcast.net for more information.