The Family Pioneer statue is a fund raising project for Rebild Utah's chapter. Our Chapter took over "Friends of Denmark" that originated the idea.

We are in the process of identifying a good stone mason in the Skørping area that could engrave the names on the bricks we already have in storage at Rebild. As soon as this process is set up, it will go fast, and people will be able to see results quickly.

1. The process right now is for interested parties to contact Rebild Utah with a request. ringheimjensenh@yahoo.com
2. I will then email a form that asks for certain information, and request a check in US dollars of $500 to be mailed to Rebild Utah, 890 North Sage Circle, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062.

We plan to have a link on our www.rebildutah.com website in the future, where people can order and pay through Pay Pal with credit card to make it easier.

During the period of 1820-1940, approximately 380,000 Danes immigrated to the relatively new land of the America.  Some left their homeland to escape unfortunate or difficult living circumstances, some went in search of their fortune, and others simply had a fervent love of adventure.  Regardless of their reasons, all had one thing in common: the dream of a new life in exciting surroundings.

Coupled with this dream, there was often slight hesitation in the hearts of these brave emigrants.  They were leaving a poor but familiar home in exchange for strange and oftentimes uncomfortable circumstances.  The read to success in America was paved with hard work, language difficulties, economic hardships, and homesickness.  In spite of the difficulties, these determined Danes established respectable, new lives in America, and were part of creating the United States as we know it today.  Over 500 Danes fought in the Civil War, and many others laid railroad tracks and were part of the efforts to lay the foundation for American society.  Several towns and states show signs of their Danish heritage and many descendants of Danish emigrants preserve the memory of their Danish legacy.  Of all states, Utah has the largest group of inhabitants with Danish ancestors.

The Beck Family

The statue entitled "The Family" is a representation of an actual Danish family on its way to America.  The Beck family was a part of the Mormon emigration, with consisted of approximately 18,000 Danes in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Although the figure refers to a specific family, one can read in their faces the stories of many emigrants similar to them.  The image depicted is typical of countless other emigrants - mother, father and children are standing with their eyes directed to their new home.  Each seems to be filled with hope and great expectations for what lies ahead.

The grandmother appears to be looking back with a wistful gaze; she may not have the same things ahead of her.  The new language might be too difficult for her to learn, and her husband has chosen to remain in Denmark, so she may never see him again.  The baby in the arms of its mother will not complete the journey, and is included in memory of the many infants who lost their lives while their families crossed the ocean.

The arrival on the East Coast of the United States did not mark the end of the journey for the Beck Family as many other Danish families.  Four months after departing from Hamburg, Germany, they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in Utah, where they were met with many more challenges.  For some time, the family lived in a one-room adobe home with a dirt roof.  Through hard work and perseverance they overcame their hardships and descendants of the beck family are found in the city of Alpine, Utah, to this very day.

One will probably never completely understand what motivated these emigrants.  Their joys and hardships were very diverse and different from our modern-day lives.  Through tales and art, such as this sculpture, we might begin sense what drove these people to succeed.  By learning about them we can appreciate their contributions to our life today.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

The artist Dennis Smith was born in Alpine, Utah in 1942 to parents with Danish ancestors in Vendsyssel.  The sculpture "The Family" depicts his forefathers who immigrated to America.  He studied art at Brigham Young University, and in 1968 he was admitted to Royal Academy of Sculpture in Charlottenborg, Denmark.  He learned to speak fluent Danish, and he also spent 2 1/2 years in Denmark as a representative for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1961-1963.

Descendants and Friends of Denmark

B-202 ASB

Provo, UT 84602

Phone: 801-378-6433

Email: webmaster@denmark2000.org

Mormon contact in Denmark

Jesu Kristi Kirke af Sidste Dages Hellige

Niels-Ove Andersen

National Informationschef

Guldbergsvej 31

5000 Odense C

Telf: 66-11-1700

Fax: 66-11-1725

Mobil: 40-55-1700

email: noa@noa.dk

Webpage: http://www.noa.dk/