Utah shuts down a lot during July. First there is the Fourth of
July celebration with days off work. The Salt Lake Temple shuts down for two weeks and we take our summer vacation during that time.
And then leading up to and including July 24th, there is the Days of 47 Holiday commemorating the first vanguard of
Mormon Pioneers who entered the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. There then followed a steady stream of Pioneers from all over the world.
My Great Grandparents, Leopold and Anna Hirschi Wirthlin came from Switzerland in 1863 in a Pionner wagon train. But when the first group of pioneers came, there was very little in the Valley and the 24th of July Holiday celebrated this great event in the inter mountain west.
David, Richard Wirthlin and I got up for the sunrise service in the Tabernacle. There was a fine choir there, talks and tributes to the early pioneers. We did not stay for the parade. There are fireworks at night.
Douglas and his family, Emily and her family, Suz with her kids and Becca's kids, Al and her kids, Cathy and her family, Mom and I with several of Cheryl's kids all went to the Rodeo which is a classic. There was bronco riding, calf roping, steer busting, Brahman bull riding and Ladies barrel racing. And it was so much fun. We asked James what he liked best at the rodeo and he said, "I liked best when they showed a picture of Opa with his big cowboy hat on the large TV screen!" I missed that one.
There were non stop parties, get togethers, complicated sleep overs, spontaneous dinners or just any excuse to get together. Mom and I and Al and her kids visited the Church History Museum across from Temple Square. Here is the gang in front of a covered wagon.
Well it has also been a time of transition. Becca and her family moved to Heber and many helped with the move.
Al and Paul left for a non stop drive to Michigan. Suz will be here for a while longer and the summer is slipping away.
Oh Mom and I got airline tickets to Berlin in October. Steffi Meyne, another of our great sister missionaries is getting married and that is a real good reason to go back. We will probably spend most of the time in East Germany and it is only a few days.
Alles Gute und Alles Liebe...Oma u. Opa
4 comments:
That's so great that you're going to make it out for Steffi's wedding. Bitte richten Sie aus some Gruessen and hugs for me. :)
Super, Sie koennen endlich wieder nach Deutschland. Schade das wir nicht zur selben Zeit hier sind. Vielleicht koennen Sie sich ja mit meiner Mutter treffen wenn sie hier sind?
What a great time we had! We miss you already
Did we have any of our ancestors in Nauvoo?
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