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PROVO — Four months ago, life changed in an instant and for a lifetime for Mason Wells, Joseph Dresden Empey and Richard Norby.
The three, who were serving missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sustained serious injuries when a terrorist bomb exploded in the Brusells airport on March 22. They were there to see off Sister Fanny Clain, 20 of France, who was catching a flight to Utah for the next leg of her mission assignment. She also a was injured in the attack that killed 32 people from around the world.
On Monday, the three men were honored as grand marshals of Provo's Freedom Festival Grand Parade.
Wells, of Sandy, said he couldn't imagine being home at this point of his life, let alone a grand marshal of a parade. He had served 20 months of his two-year mission when the attack occurred.
"After being outside this country and seeing how my country supported me after a terrible incident like this, it just shows me how great of a nation we really are. To me, it makes freedom something a lot more tangible," he said.
Empey, of Santa Clara, said he was grateful to greet and thank "all the people who were praying for us and supporting us through that whole experience. I'm so glad to be here with my fellow missionaries." As he prepared to climb into car to travel the parade route with Norby, of Lehi, and Wells, Empey reflected on the meaning of the holiday.
"Today I'm super grateful to live in a country that's free. I'm super grateful for all the soldiers who fought for our freedom. I don't think I had very much of an appreciation before I left on my mission seeing what different countries were like, especially going through that whole experience, how awesome America is, just how great our nation is."
The parade, which traveled along University Avenue ending at 900 East, drew some 300,000 spectators, said spokeswoman Dorene Nelson. This year, organizers lengthened the parade route by three blocks to accommodate growing numbers of spectators, she said.
Marlin Christianson, who attended the parade with his immediate family, parents and in-laws, said he served nearly 12 years in the Navy on a Marine base outside San Diego. He said he learned a great deal from fellow service members and their families about the cost of freedom.
As for his own children, he hopes to pass on "the ideas that our country stands for mean a lot. I hope that they'll pass that on to their children and that it will be something they understand is worth standing up for and fighting for."
This year's parade featured patriotic music performed by area high school marching bands, meticulously decorated floats, pageant royalty, a number horse-drawn stagecoaches as well as appearances by BYU basketball coach Dave Rose and the university's new football coach, Kalani Sitake.
A number of elected officials also took part in the parade, which had about 150 entries, Nelson said. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, first lady Jeanette Herbert and their family rode in a Model T stretch limousine. U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, meanwhile, walked behind a vehicle. He was accompanied by his wife, Julie, who braved the route in high-heeled sandals.
The crowd roared with approval for numerous law enforcement and military entries, but some of loudest cheers erupted when riders on fire trucks spritzed the crowd with water, a welcome relief from the heat of the day.
Paradegoer Ashley Heath, whose daughters were decked out in red, white and blue, said her family looks forward to spending time together at the parade each year. Four generations of her family were camped out along University Avenue, she said.
"It's just a tradition my parents started when I was little and now I'm bringing my own kids and my parents come with us. It's just a wonderful time to see the community come together," she said.
