Mormon Battalion in San Diego, 2009

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS San Diego Stake Center) hosted the Mormon Battalion Symposium last January 30, 2009. This Conference was sponsored by the California Pioneer Heritage Foundation. This Foundation was established to recognize California's Pioneer Era, and the men and women who came between 1845 and the arrival of the railroads. The Foundation places particular emphasis on the contributions of pioneers who were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The goal of the foundation is to educate members of the LDS Church, the general public, and the media about these stalwart pioneers by the following means:

• Encouraging research
• Printing and distributing educational materials
• Establishing and updating an educational website
• Funding The Mormon Collection at Bancroft Library in Berkeley
• Presenting historically accurate dramatic and musical productions
• Giving living history presentations in schools and other settings
• Providing an historical presence at various public events (i.e. re-enactors)

The Symposium highlighted Kevin Henson's ongoing trek across the country. He and others have been hiking and researching the trail taken the Mormon Battalion in 1846. Other topics of that era included textiles and clothing, equipment, medicine and the use of Google Earth for research. Conference goals included:

• Educate attendees regarding ongoing initiatives that promote the advancement of knowledge concerning the contributions of the Mormon Battalion
• Develop synergy between Mormon Battalion organizations with similar goals
• Promote the gathering of historical journals, artifacts, maps and photographs for publication, preservation and/or display
• Develop, "Next Steps," if desired

Bob Tegue(sp???), the chairman of the Mormon Battalion Trek, gave the opening comments. He spoke of his personal relationship to history and remarked, "There is a special feeling to stand where history occurred." He lauded the Trek and stated, "The Trek is about life, courage and faith." "It connects us to the past and future ... [and] can connect people together."
Kevin Henson spoke of the eight month trek as they followed, researched and mapped the Mormon Battalion Trail.

The re-enactment portion of the weekend took place at Old Town State Historic Park in San Diego. And one could not have chosen a wonderful day for it. Plenty of activities and things to see. Click on the picture above to be transported to photographs of the event.

Photographs of Events
California Pioneer Heritage Foundation
Mormon Battalion: Military Arms, Equipment and Training
Mormon Battalion Association
Mormon Battalion History
Mormon Battalion Trek of 2008