It’s time for an accounting of the many things for which Vicksburg and Warren County have to be thankful.

Our list overflows.

From our geography on the banks of the Mississippi River and our place in history, Vicksburg has many reasons to give thanks.

We are thankful for the Vicksburg National Military Park. Not only are the park and the people it attracts all important for our economy, the history the park recalls gives our generation a depiction of the life and character of our ancestors and those who traveled here to stand up for the country they loved and found worth fighting for. Lest we forget.

We are thankful for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Army Engineer and Research and Development Center.

The Corps and ERDC bring so much to the quality of life in Vicksburg and Warren County.

We are thankful for renewed and coordinated efforts for economic development here, one that has the buy-in of the City of Vicksburg, Warren County, the Vicksburg Port Commission and the private sector here. A strategic plan is merely months away. We looking forward to the time when Vicksburg’s story is marketed among those who make decisions about manufacturing and job creation, because our story is compelling.

We are thankful for the group who is leading the way to development of our riverfront. We are thankful for those who are working to make the high-tech business start-up incubator a reality in the old Mississippi Hardware building.

We’re thankful to those who are working to restore and renovate our many beautiful, old buildings downtown, thus recruiting more families who will make their home in our city’s charming downtown buildings.

We are thankful for the leaders in our school system and the many in the business community who have chosen to partner with them financially on the Leader in Me program and Ford Next Generation Learning. In short order, we’re confident our school district will be among the best in the state and will be producing college or work-ready citizens.

We’re thankful for Alcorn State University and Hinds Community College, who are expanding their offerings and footprint in our community.

We’re thankful for all of the good things happening in Vicksburg, which will make it a place our children and grandchildren will want to continue to call home.