The about two-hour ceremony ended with a grande finale of fireworks, the national anthem, cannon blasts and a flyover.Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao champions railroad workers at the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike Ceremony on May 10. “If we don’t know where we come from, it’s difficult to know where we’re going,” he said. Voehl said celebrating history is crucial. “And that’s why I had the pleasure to sign the bill on July 2, 1862,” Voehl said, speaking as Lincoln. Voehl said just as the conflict over slavery caused the Civil War, it also delayed the start of this huge project - because wherever the railroad was built it brought commerce along the line with it.įor years Southern politicians blocked efforts to build the railroad in the North, Voehl explained, but in 1861 when rebel states succeeded, Congress agreed on the railroad’s route. This is a monumental event in the history of the United States and also what it meant for the whole world to have completed a completed a continent connected through railroad,” he said. John Voehl, presenter and historian, posed as President Abraham Lincoln at the festivities Friday. There was plenty of other history roaming the historic site. One couple, Michael and Karen McCann, traveled from Raleigh, North Carolina, to take part in the celebration because their 16-year-old son, Chris McCann, loves trains. She praised the “diverse workforce” that helped complete the seminal project. She expressed gratitude that she’s able to shine light on the Chinese railroad workers who "risked everything" and worked in “merciless, dangerous and harsh” conditions. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao spoke about her experience as the first person of Chinese descent to hold the Cabinet position. Spiritual leader for the Shoshoni Nation Rios Pacheco offered a Native American prayer and blessing just before thousands of people joined the Spike 150 Chorus in singing the national anthem. “Let’s be proud immigrants make up America.” ![]() ![]() “This record-setting feat on the road to Promontory is unmatched in history,” Yu said. She then told the crowd that today they reclaimed their place in history, which was met with loud cheers. She asked the crowd why these workers were denied their “rightful place” during the 100th anniversary of the golden spike. ![]() To kick off the ceremony, elementary-age children performed the "Chinese Lion Dance: Good Luck and Happiness," which was met with cheers from the crowd.Ĭonnie Young Yu, author, historian, lecturer on Chinese American issues and Chinese railroad worker descendent, opened the speech portion of the ceremony, noting the erasure of an estimated 15,000 to 25,000 Chinese railroad workers from history. “We can bring our ancestry, the names, the history back here, be part of history - they did the work,” he said, adding that the main reason they attended the ceremony was to represent their Chinese heritage. “I see a lot of people from different area and it’s a very nice feeling seeing the railroad,” Georgina Yee said.ĭon Yee doesn’t have a direct ancestral link to a Chinese railroad worker, he said, but noted he still is deeply disappointed the iconic original champagne toast photo of the completion of the transcontinental railroad didn’t include the Asian workers. ![]() While it is Georgina Yee’s first time in Utah, Don Yee attended elementary and middle school in Ogden but hasn’t been back to Utah since 1964. “It is quite an honor to be here.”įriends of the Wongs', Don and Georgina Yee, who also are members of the legion auxiliary, aren't total strangers to the Beehive State. 119 trains ride in was “totally exciting” and brought tears to his eyes. He said watching the iconic Jupiter and No. “Seeing everybody here is just quite a sight,” he said. For Kenny Wong, celebrating the 150th anniversary hits close to home - his great-grandfather was a Chinese laborer for the railroad.
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