Last night, the enthusiasm could be felt as you walked into the Lady Luck Arena for the Fourth Annual Dancing with the Vicksburg Stars.

It was the perfect opportunity to have a fun night out with my wife and show some support for the United Way of Western Mississippi.  One of their biggest events of the year, Dancing with the Vicksburg Stars brought a lot of people in the community together for a great cause.

Dinner and dancing, that I don’t have to attempt to participate in, is a great way to spend a Saturday night.  Once we raided the buffet tables with a little bit of this and that, we found our way to our table and watched the fun begin.  Who knew Vicksburg had such an eclectic array of talent residing right here amongst us?  You could tell that everyone put in a lot of hard work preparing for their performances.

I’m more laid back than my wife so I let Catherine do all the hooping and hollering for each group and may have hummed along to a few of the musical selections.  My son tells me to quit singing along every week at church as my wife leads the worship service, so humming is about all I’m allowed to do these days.

Singer Lady L and her husband G.C. Cameron, a Motown veteran and former member of the Spinners and the Temptations gave a rousing musical set during the intermission.  You could see everyone in the room light up as the intro music for My Girl started up.  It’s hard to hear any Motown classic and not instantly feel better.

Capping the night off with the announcement of winners and runner-ups, Michelle Connelly, director for The United Way of West Central Mississippi reminded us of why we were there in the first place.  The United Way’s mission is to advance the common good for our community by focusing on education, income and health.

Last night I heard Vicksburg touted as the city of “generosity,” and I couldn’t agree more.  Maybe it takes a transplant like my family to really see what Vicksburg has that not many other communities can boast of, and that is heart.

Vicksburg’s heart beats for its residents, from the most influential positions to the humble layman, the ties that bind is a love for this community and a generous spirit to help each other make it in life.  Just like those dancers last night that were lifted off their feet and swept through the air, we could all use a pick-me-up. Last night’s event will help Vicksburg soar.

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Paul Barry is the managing editor and can be reached by email at paul.barry@vicksburgpost.com or by phone at 601-636-4545 ext. 123.