Utah commemorated its entry into the Union as the 45th state at weekend ceremonies. The principal observance, of course, was the Saturday night program in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, a “reenactment” of the statehood celebration of Jan. 4, 1896. Since the Tabernacle event kicked off the state’s Bicentennial year events, you might say it was a double – birthday celebration – Utah’s 80th and America’s 200th. Generally across the state the anniversary was quieta far cry from the celebration of 1896 when Utahns welcomed President Cleveland’s statehood proclamation. N That occasion was marked in Provo with a major program in the tabernacle directed by Mayor Lafayette Holbrook. The Salt Lake observance last Saturday night featured remarks by Gov. Calvin L. Hampton and President Spencer W. Kimball of the LDS Church and the main address by Dr. Richard D. Poll, formerly of the Brigham Young University faculty, now of Western Illinois University. Theming his remarks to “The Americanism of Utah,” Dr. Poll commented: “ln pointing to the common threads in two centuries of history, I will suggest that even when Utah was most different, she was not so very different, and that the ’emphasizing of differences gave way long ago to a desire to be the most American of all.” After statehood, he said, differences between Utah and the nation gradually disappeared. ”America’s politics became Utah’s politics, and her wars, our wars…” Dr. Poll’s conclusion was a challenge to all Utahns: “We live in a choice land, fotmded by men and women of vision and valor. The past and future successes of our state and nation are realted to the character and dedication of the people. If we do not celebrate and teach these truths, we cannot expect our fellow citizens to do so. Properly presented through our civic and personal lives, they can be our birthday present to America.” So, Utah has embarked on its Blst year as a state. May it be a great year both for the state and its full-fledged partner, the United States of America. So They Suy “In imperial times, those who came to the court of Peking as petitioners of the Chinese emperor were treated with contemptY Those who insisted on some reciprocity eventually won respect. This is an understanding which we can hope President Ford will take to Peking when he visits later this year.” -Richard L. Walker, director of the Institute of International Studies at the University of South Carolina.