A week to remember

Some 12,000 American Legionnaires, in Salt Lake City for the organization's 88th annual National Convention, turn downtown into a gigantic display of patriotism with a more than two-hour parade of honor guards, marching bands and the American Legion Riders motorcycle group.... Dignitaries in the reviewing stand on 200 South, between State Street and 200 East, include Allen Dale June, a member of the Marines' famed "Code Talker" battalion of World War II.... Earlier Sunday, Legionnaires attend a patriotic memorial service featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the LDS Church's Conference Center.... Speaker Elder Lance B. Wickman of the church's First Quorum of Seventy says service to others is what really matters and that service in the military can be a "sacred duty." ... Speaker Steven E. Wright, a Utahn who is the Legion's national chaplain, gives special recognition to audience members Tony and Amy Galvez, a Salt Lake couple whose son, Marine Cpl. Adam Galvez, was killed in Iraq Aug. 20.

The Utah Republican Party launches a radio ad campaign urging its supporters to call Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson, who plans to speak at an anti-war rally preceding President Bush's visit to the Legion convention, and "tell him to stop embarrassing Utah." ... By late afternoon, the mayor's office receives 183 calls.... The Utah GOP announces it is resuming plans for a public welcome rally Wednesday night for Bush at Washington Square, though the president will not attend.... At the Air National Guard Base, where Air Force One will arrive Wednesday night, a rally is planned with about 3,000 people with tickets they obtained from the offices of Utah's congressional delegation.

Tuesday, Aug. 29