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Sam Penrod ReportingAmber Beckstrand: “A lot of people have been really excited about it, and putting flags up.”
The spotlight is about to shine on the small community of Fillmore, as Governor Huntsman prepares to give his first state of the state address. The governor will speak from inside the Territorial Statehouse. But his speech is a real feather in the cap for Fillmore, where it's all people have been talking about for days.
To say there is a lot of community pride in Fillmore tonight would be a huge understatement. People there are excited that for the first time in 150 years, their city will be the center of attention for the entire state.
At Millard High School, instead of studying history, students today know their community is making it.
Amber Lund, Millard High Student: “It’s a very big deal to us. We were a historical point, it’s important to us that it is all coming back.”
Kacie Bond, Millard High Student: “We feel pretty special about it. Some people might think it’s a bad idea, we think it’s a good idea.”
All across town, there are signs welcoming the governor to what lifelong Fillmore residents call the biggest event in decades.
Phillip Robison, Fillmore Resident: “It reminds me of 1947 when we had the big centennial celebration here.”
Others see it as a great opportunity to showcase their city to the rest of the state.
Knox Huntsman, Fillmore Resident: "There's the veteran's wall memorial over there people will come take a look at that, tourism will increase, people will take a more interested look in our community.”
Walking through the Fillmore Cemetery this afternoon, where 43 of his close relatives are buried, the governor calls his speech here tonight an important symbolic step in remembering his beginnings.
Gov. Huntsman: "It's an emotional journey of sorts, I look at the graveyard and it must be two thirds full with my ancestors. So for me it's a very poignant moment and it is, this is where my roots are."
And state lawmakers just finished getting a taste of small town Utah. A dutch oven dinner with some Fillmore flavor was served to them. And after his speech, the governor will treat lawmakers to a burger at Larrys, the local drive in.
