[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 106 (Thursday, July 24, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H5668]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


HONORING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ENTRY OF PIONEERS INTO THE STATE 
                                OF UTAH

  (Mr. CANNON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks and include extraneous 
material.)
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of today's 150th anniversary 
of the entry of the pioneers into Utah. The pioneer exodus was an event 
of monumental proportions. Seeking a land of opportunity and freedom, 
over 80,000 Mormon pioneers made the trek west in wagons, on horses, 
and on foot, covering the rugged trail from the shores of the 
Mississippi to the valley of the Great Salt Lake. It was blistering hot 
in the summer and deathly cold in the winter. Obstacles included 
disease, fatigue, hunger, and hostile natives.
  My great grandfather, George Q. Cannon, was among those pioneers. At 
the age of 17, he lost both parents along the trail. Yet young George 
trekked on. He went on to become a Utah leader, fighting for statehood 
while serving in this very body as a territorial representative.
  Today I honor my ancestor and his fellow pioneers for having the 
courage, fortitude, and the faith in every footstep to push on despite 
the obstacles, creating a legacy of faith and freedom.

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