Old Town Celebrates Battalion Day

The sixth annual Mormon Battalion Day celebration took place in Old Town on Saturday, January 31, commemorating the 161st anniversary of the arrival of the first American military sent to San Diego. The battalion set a record for making the longest military march in military history, a 2000 mile journey that started in Iowa.

A parade in the plaza marked the start of the day’s events at 10:00 a.m. Those participating wore period clothing. Children’s crafts and activities were abundant: panning for gold, rope building, adobe brick making, tug of war, and toy doll creation. Under canvas tents, period rifle activities and butter churning were presented. An eager crowd watched as a man who just completed the 2000-mile trek shaved his 9-month beard.