Thanksgiving is a day set aside to recognize one’s blessings and for those of us living in Vicksburg, Thursday was not only a time to be thankful for our family and friends, but locals can also be grateful for a community filled with generosity and opportunities for fun and fellowship. The U.S. Army Engineering Research and Development Center Wounded Warrior program was selected for its first “Team of the Year” award. The program, which works to hire and place veterans with jobs in the various Corps branches and districts, hired nine veterans in 2014. “Unlike an award that you would get for technical research, this is an award that goes for supporting a group of individuals,” ERDC’s deputy to the commander and head of the ERDC Wounded Warrior program Henry McDevitt said.

Other local happenings to be grateful for this past week in Vicksburg include a Thanksgiving camp held at the Purks YMCA. The camp offered programing for more than 50 children. With a Thanksgiving theme, campers made Indian headdresses, turkeys out of coffee filters and paper towel rolls. Campers also had the opportunity to play in the gym and swim. In addition to the day camp, the first-ever overnight Warner-Tully YMCA Thanksgiving camp session was held.

4Granny’s Kitchen offered Thanksgiving meals to those less fortunate for the second year. Named for founder Emmarie Flaggs-Anderson grandmother, the late Mozella Flaggs, who lived on Main Street and made it her mission to provide a Thanksgiving meal to all who needed one in her area of the city, the dinner was served at 6 p.m. Wednesday at St. Mary’s gymnasium. Last year, volunteers served more than 100 meals with more servings expected this year. The Warren County Sheriff’s department also pitched in to deliver meals to those who could not come to the dinner.

4The Radio People, the Warrior Bonfire Project and the Southern Heritage Air Foundation handed our turkeys to 60 veterans on Tuesday in Warren County and Tallulah, La. The turkeys were provided by WalMart and purchased by the radio station through the Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation, which assist youth and families.

• The Vicksburg Welcome Center played host to the increase of visitors who traveled to the River City during the holiday week. By mid-Tuesday travel counselor Alex Brown said they had already seen a surge in visitors to the city and expected to see the numbers increase to more than 300 a day.

• Vicksburg area third graders submitted their recipes on “How To Cook A Turkey” in Thursday’s edition of the Vicksburg Post. Ingredients in their recipes included bubble gum, a can of salt, strawberries, 32 cups of sugar and French fries!