Heritage Gateways

Margaret Clark Journals

July 24, 1997

Location: Salt Lake Valley (the right place), Utah - The end destination for the trek across the plains.

Summary: Let's have a parade!

Journal entry: I can never thank everyone who has been a part of our lives, our experiences on this wagon train. The list is endless and could go on forever. It has taken the time and efforts of thousands of people. But for me, I have a special group of workers who have made my job as an Internet writer possible. I really had no idea what I was getting into when I casually agreed to put my journal on the Internet. First, I had to learn the computer. And this was no easy task. But I did it. And when I didn't know what I was doing, I had professional people who were there to help me. Thanks big time to BC for agreeing to journal, also, and for assuming a lot of the technical responsibilities out here on the trail.

Back home on the website were numerous people, many I have never even met, who have spent countless hours in front of their screens doing the behind-the-scenes work.

I met Ron Andersen out here on the trail one day. We talked and visited and I had no idea what an incredible person he was. He teaches middle school math, but has spent hours and hours working on the website through UtahLINK. I guess this website was originally his idea. He has gleaned a lot of Kimball's work, and has done the INFOBASES CD. He answers many expert questions and takes personal e-mail from those wanting more information. He has done a huge work.

Jeanette Hammock is a UtahLINK software engineer. She created the database tables and wrote the SQL statements that create the pages. She takes care of all the technical aspects of the coding. I am told she is excellent in her work.

Carol Lee Hawkins works for BYU teacher education and works with BYU/Public School Partnership. She has been instrumental in getting copyright releases for many of the high quality sources about the original pioneers. She has been a constant advocate of this project. Judy Rice, Vince Shrader, John Davis are graduate students in the BYU media services. They have processed all the beautiful re-enactment images and entered the descriptions.

Maggie Hopffgarten is the UtahLINK project manager. She writes the letters requesting copyright release, promotes and encourages the site, manages the budget, supports and critiques. Found Daniel Whitaker to be a journaler. Tracy Vandeventer from the State Office of Education was a key support person for the project from the very beginning.

Andrea Munford is a student from the new Canyon View High School in Cedar City. She designed the icons used along the left side of the page for navigation. Hajime Nakagawa, Tomoko Nakayama translated Osamu's entries from Japanese to English.

Bre Cornell on the wagon train acted as liason between the project and the train and gave support.

Brian Page from Apple Computer donated the use of personal eMates and QuickTake camera for use on the project.

Pat Horyna is a teacher and worked with the Utah State Office of Education in evaluating lesson plans for quality. Linda Crowther, Barabara Rindflesh, Gaylene Seaman, Rob Keddington, Lauren Tanner, Marilynn Nielson, Sharon Jensen, Debra May, Barry Graf Catlett, Christine Wilkinson, Jean McPherron, Kimberly Nielsen, Cory Little, Natalie Anderson, Mindy Husk, Sara Bird-Matis, Dr. Jess Walker, David Squires, Mark Bake, Sally Todd, Janet Bladsoe, and Steve Haderlie are teachers who have committed to writing curriculum around the re-enactment.

Jeff Payne came to the trail and was also available by phone to act as a technical assistant and support. Thanks Jeff for your help.

Kathy Webb was my life line to this project. She conceptualized and designed the site structure and database structure. She also did the web page look and navigation. She collected and input data into the historical section. She edited and posted the journal entries, handled the mail and posted the encouragement letters. Kathy was my sanity and strength when I was confused and lost and didn't know what I was doing. She was patient beyond belief with me and helped me through hours and hours of frustration. I can never praise her enough or thank her enough. Thank you, Kathy.

I will always remember this time working on the Internet as one of the most difficult things I have done. But I have tried, done my best, and hope it has been a worthwhile source of information about the wagon train. I was asked to make this my journal. I have no other journal. If it was personal, so be it, for I am a personal, quiet, introspective kind of being. I felt a lot and wrote it down. I have felt strongly about the purpose of the wagon train and have written it down. I offer no apologies for what is here but only offer it to the reader as one view of what has occurred. If you care to read other journals, you will get other views. There are many. As far as I know, no one person kept an official journal of the wagon train. If one is created, it will undoubtedly have to be a culmination of many.

Today was our last together as a wagon train. Many of our group chose to parade in Ogden at their celebration. We truly missed them. But those of us who remained in Salt Lake City, to be a part of the Days Of "47 parade, will never ever forget the reception we received.

We had a dinner and breakfast prepared for us by the Park Stake of the LDS church. They donated their time and effort for these free, delicious meals. Thank you so much.

We left the State Fairgrounds and had to wend our way to Temple Square which was the beginning point of the parade. We were scheduled to be last in the parade. When it was our time to begin, I stood near the first wagon and waved each one good-bye. It is so wonderful to have known you all.

We began the parade and as the first horse and wagon approached the crowds, the people stood on their feet, cheered and applauded. I was overwhelmed as I surveyed the incredible number of standing, cheering, applauding people. It was truly a sight to behold. As our group slowly made our way down the parade route, and the first wagon and horse approached, the people would stand and cheer. This lasted the entire way..til the last walker passed by, and the parade came to an end. I just could not imagine a more heartwarming reception. If only the 70,000 pioneers of old could know what their sacrifices have meant to us all. They were great people. They were great people.

The estimates were that 200,000 people attended the parade this year. If you came to see the wagon train, we thank you immensely. Please know that we love and appreciate this warm reception, this great out-pouring of love, this great honor to our pioneer heritage. I feel our wagon train represented all of us.

If I can leave two thoughts with the reader, I would like to say that first, the pioneers who carved our home out of the wilderness did so because of their beliefs in Christ and their desire to worship as they chose. They had been persecuted for so long for their beliefs, that they desired nothing more than peace in their religion. I admire their courage in pursuing that peace. Secondly, I feel we cannot let their legacy die. This has been a great year for remembrance of our pioneer heritage. We must keep their stories alive. We must tell the children and they must tell their children the stories of these great people. They must never be forgotten. What they did was far too great.

Tell Your Children

Wagons, handcarts long ago; People walking, Oxen slow.
Ford a river, Round a bend. Dust, wind, hot sun--never end.
Tell a story, sing a song; Help your family come along.
Tell their stories, brave ones dear. Tell your children: memories near.

Wagons, handcarts of today. People pulling. Horses sway.
Cross a bridge, round a bend. Dust, wind, hot sun--never end.
Share a funny, Sing a chant. Don't let friends say "I can't."
Tell our stories-fun and dear. Tell our children: good times here.

Parents, children, long ago. Walk together, time is slow.
Share the water and the meat; rancid bread and flour to eat.
Sickness passes through the trains. Chills and fevers from the rains.
Tell their stories, brave ones dear. Tell your children: memories near.

Families, friends of today, Pass the miles and miles away.
Eat a cookie, share a pop. Bump along. Never stop.
Feet are blistered, band-aids near. A skinned up knee. Wipe a tear.
Tell our stories. We are real! Tell your children how we feel.

Sickness, trials, loved ones die. Want to stop but still they try to
Have a hope, a dream for life, of home and hearth with much less strife.
On they came to build a land, In rocky, dry, unyielding sand.
Tell their stories, brave ones dear. Tell your children: memories near.

Our trek is a memory to those whose feet we cannot see.
But yet we feel their spirits here, to tell our children "Never fear.
Do what's right. Be brave and true. Do as we have tried to do.
Tell our stories, loud and clear. Tell your children: keep memories near."

My love to you all.

HappyNetTrekking!
Margaret Clark