Cedar City Shows Up

I've said it before, and I'm going to say it again. Cedar City shows up.

We've seen it time and time again. Remember the floods from the summer of 2021 and to a lesser degree, the floods from this last summer. People showed up, and while we didn't need as many sandbags this last summer as the year before, people showed up to fill them out. The Salvation Army looking to raise funds during the Christmas season? If you've been to Walmart in the last several days, you've seen the volunteers out during these cold (and soon to get colder) days ringing the bells to encourage contributions. When I first moved here some thirty years ago, I had the misfortune to fall off the moving van and ended up breaking my ankle. Within seconds, our neighbors were right there to assist and get me medical attention. I think I still owe the little girl who heard an unmentionable word I uttered as I fell off the truck and apology. By the time I was released from the hospital the van had been unloaded and place in to our house.

I'm pretty sure any of you could probably give examples of when there was a need in your life or in your neighborhood that people came to render aid. And very likely, you are one of those who show up when help is needed.

But what about when help is not needed, when it's a community gathering to celebrate, unwind and just have fun together? We still show up. Forth of July parade and activities? Packed. A July Jamboree to celebrate summer? You'd have better luck getting through the streets of the strip in Las Vegas. Gathering to watch sheep parade down Main Street? Yep, we're there. Time to turn on the downtown Christmas lights? We bundle up and show up.

Remember when the Olympic Torch passed through Cedar City on a frigid February morning in 2002? I remember watching the news that evening with some of the reporters just blown away by how we showed up. One even said we had more people in Eccles Coliseum that day then the population of the town. Having seen it myself, I could believe it.

Even thought I didn't need a reminder, I got a couple this weekend. We were able to get tickets to the Piano Guys and went Saturday night. The America First Event Center was jam packed, and we all had a great time. One interesting note on that, about halfway through that show a medical emergency happened with someone in the audience. You could, or at least I could, feel everyone in the building sending out prayers or karma or whatever you want to call it hoping for a happy resolution to the situation. As the person gave a thumbs up while leaving the building we know our best wished were answered.

And then Sunday night was the first of the two performances of the Messiah by the Orchestra of Southern Utah. It was cold. It was starting to snow in what was predicted to be a significant storm. And we showed up. (By the way there is another performance of the Messiah tonight at 7:30 at the Heritage Theater. Free tickets will be released at 7:15, but seats will be hard to come by)

Several years ago, a co-worker from one of our sister stations came to Cedar to broadcast from an event up here. We were there, too, broadcasting on our station. He looked around seeing everyone who was there and told me “I wish people in our city came out to events like this.” I just had to smile.