By Julie Johansen
Castle Valley Outdoors was the setting for the Emery County Historical Society annual cowboy poetry gathering on Thursday. Arrivedm Relics, a band from Emery, played and sang. The members of this band are Bob Baker, Lou Larsen and Jim Keele.
Society president Lorie Larsen welcomed members and guests and gave a brief review of the birth of cowboy poetry, which took place on the trail of cattle drives. She also noted that Miners’ Memorial books are now being sold to help fund labeling the geological layers in the area. She then honored Sylvia Nelson for her contributions to the historical society as well as to the recorded history of Emery County. Nelson was a past president of the historical society and helped put together the red Emery County History Book. She also helped with the Centennial History Book written by Edward Geary. She received the Governor’s Volunteer of Year Award and has always been an advocate for Emery County. This was a surprise to her and many family members had traveled many miles to be present as the presentation was made. Nelson took time to thank everyone for the honor.
The MC for the evening, Kent Peterson, then gave the mike to Jo Sansevero, who announced the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial that will be part of Peach Days Celebration on September 10. A free breakfast for veterans will take place at 7 a.m. Veterans are invited to bring their spouses for a small fee. The parade will be at 10 a.m. and all veterans are asked to join them on a float as they will be serving as the grand marshals of the parade. At 11 a.m., the veterans will be honored with a 21-gun salute at the Field of Flags. Governor Gary Herbert will be present to hand out the medals to the Vietnam Veterans.
The featured poet of the evening was Hal Clark. Clark grew up around Salem but now resides in Green River. He entertained with some of his own poems as well as some from other authors; Charles Badger Clark, Bruce Kiskaddon, Henry Herbert Mills and Omar Barker. He introduced his daughter, Amanda, as his side-kick and she helped him entertain. Following several poems by Clark, the society served Dutch oven cobbler and ice cream to many guests.
