24th Celebration

In the morning we will attend the parade and have foil dinners up on the mountain at Yankee Meadows.

How well I remember with fondness our trek from Decker Park at Vallecito, to the San Luis Valley in Colorado. Dad would drive the truck pulling the camper with Mom driving the station wagon loaded with children. We loved the opportunity to ride in the truck with Dad which did not happen often as the older boys felt like that was their spot to occupy. When we arrived in Romeo Dad would park the camper in the drive way at Grandpa and Grandma Culler's house. An extension cord was run to provide lighting.

Mom would have spent the time prior to the celebration sewing new clothing for us to wear. Even the material was the same for everyone. It was nice to have new clothing to wear to the parade. One year we all had straw hats to wear. The hat look like a sombrero with the ends of the straw left unfinished. Then you could bug your sibling with the straw ends :)

We would diligently search out our relatives when we arrived at the parade route. The Culler's and the Hawkins. There was a wonderful parade to watch. The work put into the floats was incredible. You could view each side of the float as the parade would come back down main street after already having made one pass. I don't remember our favorite spot to park. I suppose it depended on the time of arrival.

There was a rodeo (which you didn't attend till you were old enough), the best was the carnival. I am not sure how Dad and Mom let all of us ride the rides we did at the carnival, but we loved it!!
Attending the dance at night in the church at Manassa was so much fun! Our cousins were the best western dancers around! It was such an enjoyable event. I loved the 24th celebration growing up.