Aided and abetted greatly by Col. Grant Dalton, Capt. Edward Bitton organized and conducted the last event of the many activities of this Sesquicentennial Year--the arrival of the Mississippi Saints and the sick detachments of the Mormon Battalion from Pueblo, CO., on 29th of July. It was planned to have some of the wagons (from the now- famous wagon train which started from Nauvoo in February) participate with the Battalion for the re-enactment of the Saints' arrival, but they were not available. Instead, a representative "squad" from the Battalion led the march and performed the flag ceremony. In the short program that followed, Pres. Shirley Maynes retold the story of the sick detachments and Pueblo's history.
Grant Dalton spoke of the goals of the Battalion and the This Is The Place State Park, and two members of the Church's Sesquicentennial Committee spoke: Gordon Romney, secretary of the Committee, showed some artifacts from the pioneer period and thanked the Battalion for their efforts; and EIder Joe Christensen told of the courage and faith of the women (especially) and men who made Pueblo a successful part of Church history. He used the account of Margaret Bridges to emphasize and bring to life the great sacrifice that those pioneers made. vice-Pres. Michelle Teeples and Ciny Moss furnished "the Pueblo children," and several wives of the Battalion officers were beautiful in their pioneer dresses as they added much color and authenticity to the event. Capt. Bitton is to be congratulated for his efforts!