Memories of three Salt Lakers turned back almost 20 years Saturday following announcement the Navy will shell the cruiser SALT LAKE CITY to the bottom of the Pacific.

Mrs. Harold F. Folland, the former Helen Budge, christened the SALT LAKE CITY at Camden, NJ., Jan. 23, 1929.

Mrs. Alan E. Brockbank, the former Gaylie Rich, was maid of honor at the launching. Twelve months later, A. G. Mackenzie represented the city at commissioning in Philadelphia, Dec. 11, 1929.

Mrs. Folland and Mrs. Brockback recalled "the perfectly wonderful time we had that week end in Philadelphia. They treated us like queens."

The absence of Utahans at commissioning ceremonies stuck in Mr. Mackenzie’s mind. "I remember asking the large crowd present that cold, windy December day if any of them were from Salt Lake City. I wanted them to take part in the ceremony, but I couldn't rouse a single resident of the Beehive state."

Mr. Mackenzie represented Mayor John F. Bowman and presented the ship a silver service given by citizens and businesses of Salt Lake City.

Each of the trio expressed regret that the SALT LAKE CITY was being destroyed.

A half hour patriotic ceremony in which Mayor Earl J. Glade received from Capt. Joseph P. Thew, commanding officer of the NROTC at University of Utah, the colors which once waved proudly from the mast of the USS SALT LAKE CITY highlighted Salt Lake's observance of V-E Day.

"The only safety in this world lies in the hearts and minds of God-fearing men," Mayor Glade said in accepting the flag which he described as having flown at the masthead of that famous ship during all her brilliant engagements."

Salt lake City received another relic Thursday from the heroic ship that bore its name.

The ship's bell from the cruiser SALT LAKE CITY was in the parks department warehouse awaiting decision of the city commission as to its final location.

Mayor Earl J. Glade and Commissioner Fred Tedesco said it will be mounted and placed either in the city and county building rounds or in Memory Park. The bell weighs nearly 1000 pounds.

The SALT LAKE CITY, nicknamed "Swayback Maru", had a notable career during WWII and at the end of the conflict underwent atomic tests at Bikini atoll. Several months ago it was sunk in target practice off San Diego.

The city applied for several relics from the ship and now has in addition to the bell, a battle flag, which is kept in the mayor's office; the silver service, now in the Naval Science building at the University of Utah; one of the ship's clocks, and a silver plated eagle, which was added to the "battle plaque" being prepared for the state capitol.