Days of '47 parade preview

"The work that goes in on the site, you wouldn't believe," said stake member Ron Monsen, who helped build the float. He said members worked night and day to get it done.

In addition to the sunstone, the float includes "Ben the Wagon Boy" with his dog and a wagon filled with tools — a scene designed from one stake member's ancestry.

Benjamin Woodbury Driggs was one of the rescuers who assisted the Willey and Martin handcart companies. While living in Nauvoo, Ill., Driggs loved playing at the wagon shop his father Shadrach Ford worked in. For his seventh birthday, Driggs' father made him a small wagon. The young boy loved the wagon and was sad when two men working on the Nauvoo temple asked Driggs if he would give his wagon to them so they could transport their tools for work on the temple. Driggs eventually gave his favorite toy to the workmen so they could move their tools efficiently.

Stake members passed out the history of Driggs at the event and will pass it out during the parade.

"It draws a lot of happiness," Monsen said. "There's a satisfaction of people enjoying it."

There will be 53 floats in the parade, and 37 are featured at the preview event. Groups must get their float design approved by The Days of '47 board six to seven months before the parade, so the board can make sure the theme is followed.

To pick a theme, McHenry said, the board "kicked around with what the pioneering spirit meant. That it isn't dead. It's still alive and well."

The preview party is at South Towne Expo Center in Sandy and ends today at 8 p.m. Bands, dancers, clowns and others also perform at the event. For more information, visit www.daysof47.com.

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