Saturday was a fine day to be a Scout.
The 1990 Scout-O-Rama held at the Salt Palace Saturday got off to an enthusiastic start at 10 a.m. with a Grand Parade. President Ezra Taft Benson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was grand marshal of the parade. He was accompanied by President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency of the LDS Church.Hundreds of Scouts carried flags in the parade, marching to the accompanying music of bagpipes.
Then the fun really started. Scouts scattered to the 750 booths throughout the building, engaging in every imaginable activity. The general public also wandered through the booths. Young children queued up to participate in the hundreds of events offered.
Those spending a day at the Scout-O-Rama could have lifelike wounds painted on their face and arms by the Scouts of Troop 1587 and Pack 450. The puckered flesh is made from vaseline, flour and cocoa. The blood is made by mixing red food dye in glycerin.
Clayton Bateson, 11, has been painting wounds for two years. "I like snakebites the best. You make two little holes in the fake skin with a toothpick and then you put red dye on it," he said.
Troop 342 touted the American Way, teaching youngsters how to vote in real voting booths with actual voting instruments borrowed from Salt Lake County.
"There are many adults who don't vote because they are intimidated by the process," said Wynn Bartholomew, acting Scoutmaster for the troop.
"Hopefully by giving the kids some exposure now, they will become voting adults some day." Children voted for cartoon characters instead of real politicians.
Hagar The Horrible was running against Beetle Bailey for president. "Beetle Bailey had a big lead, but Hagar the Horrible is catching up," Bartholomew said. His troop tallied the votes after the public voted and kept score on a blackboard.
Charlie Brown was running against Dennis the Menace for school board president and Peppermint Patty hoped to beat out Blondie as the country's vice president.
Aaron Walker, 13, found participation in his troop's project to be good preparation for the future. "I like politics and stuff. I like the USA. I want to be a senator or something."
Jeremy Parker, 8, loves his first year of Cub Scouts. "We do skits. We had a puppet show of presidents. We walked on stilts that we made with cans that you put strings through and walk on," he said.
He was helping his troop draw Indian symbols on people's faces with grease paint.