The Sox Box was privileged to participate in the Carousel of Happiness Memorial Day ceremony which also marked its fifth birthday. The Carousel’s creator, and Vietnam veteran, Scott Harrison drew tribute to all military veterans, including two of his close friends lost from combat in Vietnam. Scott then passed a microphone around the carousel where, somberly, community members announced and reflected on friends and family members deceased in combat or by suicide from our nations wars. Following the emotional tributes, a bagpiper played Amazing Grace while the carousel moved slowly without any riders to honor our nations fallen. I cannot remember a more moving ceremony that so clearly illustrated our nation’s loss and great price of the freedoms we enjoy today. We are proud to introduce the ‘Happiness’ sock. The sock is a small token of our appreciation to Mr. Harrison and his incredible life work.
More about the Carousel:
The story of the Carousel of Happiness is the story of a young Marine, a derelict carousel, and the small mountain town of Nederland, CO. It starts in 1910 when a Looff carousel was installed at Saltair Park, outside Salt Lake City, Utah. During its 49 years at Saltair, the carousel survived fires and wind storms. It was moved to the Utah State School where it was enjoyed by people with disabilities until 1986, when it was sold and stripped of its wooden horses. Meanwhile, a young Marine in Vietnam, Scott Harrison received a tiny music box that he held to his ear to balance the horror of war. He began to dream of building a carousel in a mountain meadow. Decades later, when Scott heard of the empty, abandoned Utah carousel, he rescued it. He would spend 26 years carving animals to bring it back to life. As he finished the last of 35 animals, the community of Nederland pulled together and raised money to build it a home. The Carousel opened Memorial Day, 2010, with the first ride a silent memorial to veterans. A little over a year later, the Carousel awarded its 100,000th rider a special card, giving her free rides for life. The winner was a 5-year-old girl who was living in Boulder while her father was deployed in Iraq. The Carousel has become a destination for families, senior groups, organizations serving people with disabilities, parties and weddings. A local dating Website called it a perfect place for a first date. As a non-profit organization, the Carousel relies on volunteers and donations to keep rides $1 so that everyone can experience that feeling of joy. The Carousel aspires to share proceeds with organizations that serve people with special needs.
To donate please visit the Carousel’s Website.
The Carousel of Happiness Carousel of Happiness
20 Lakeview Drive PO Box 1811, Nederland CO 80466
info@carouselofhappiness.org 303-258-3457