Trapper Days Celebrates And Salutes Those Who Gave All

This year’s new event was the Ty King/Eli Hoffman Memorial Skate Board Race, which was very well attended. It was followed by the second annual Soap Box Derby races, which were exciting.

The American Legion retired the flag that had flown over the Veterans Monument during a ceremony at the monument, then the flag was carried to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center where a patriotic program honoring veterans was held.

State Senator Sylvia Allen, Taylor Mayor Fay Hatch and Town Manager Gus Lundberg were acknowledged by Donna Hall, who organized the program. Father Peter Short of Our Lady of the Snow Catholic Church was the chaplain of the day.

Legionnaire Steve Foster presented the flag that had flown over the monument to Pete Shumway, an Army veteran of the Korean War.

David Larson, a Marine who served in the Korean War and a member of the American Legion, was the guest speaker.

Larson noted that when he was 12 years old his family moved to a ranch in New Mexico, and all the years he lived there he was in charge of the flag because he was the one who knew how to fold it and care for it.

“Son, when you’re doing anything you put your name to, do it your best and be proud of it,” Larson’s dad said to him after his first day of mowing hay on the ranch. It was a good lesson on being a hard worker.

His mother taught him obedience. She also taught him fear, as on the occasion he told her that he didn’t need his Levis washed because a cowboy told him that he couldn’t be a cowboy until his Levis could stand by themselves in a corner. “I never became a cowboy,” he told the audience.

Larson said he was blessed while he fought to defend America’s freedom.

As he came back to the United States they passed under the Golden Gate Bridge. He noted that it was too personal and he gets too emotional to share the experience of seeing the American flags flying on the bridge. “I did bow, I did kiss the earth, is all I’m going to say about it,” he said.

He said he is proud of our community, because here people stand and salute the flag, but you see people desecrating the flag. “I realized I went to Korea to give those despots the ability to desecrate the American flag,” he said, noting that many do not respect the Constitution, and don’t allow prayer.

“Our forefathers set up the Constitution and a republic, and that is why we went over and fought this war, to have a better republic,” said Larson.

He is proud to be a member of the American Legion, which performs numerous ceremonies for our loved and departed friends and buddies.

“You people are the cream of the crop for patriotism,” he said, then asked everyone “to honor our nation and Constitution, and be good family members.”

Cindy Farr and Brad Click, organizer of Trapper Days, read each name on the Veterans Monument. The names are of those who left for combat from Taylor.

A special tribute was given to Larry Curtis Biedermann, Navy, Collins N. Rowley, Army, M.F. Boyd, Army, Kent B. Palmer, Army, and Lee Chartrand, Army, the comrades who departed in 2014, then there was a moment of silence and Mack Tenney played Taps.

The Mountain Saddle Band entertained at the Rodeo Park Pavilion, and the 4-D Barrel Race and Pole Bending competitions took place in the arena.

The American Pit Bull Terrier Confirmation Show was held at the Rodeo Pavilion.

The Taylor Country Show and Dance drew a large crowd that evening.

There were tours of the historic home throughout the day.

A special historic home tour on an old fashioned wagon ride was a highlight on Monday, May 25, with more than 50 attending.