Hundreds turn out for symphony

Published 4:39 pm Tuesday, May 28, 2019

: Crafton Beck directs the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra during the Fort St. Pierre Tercentennial Symphony at Sunset at the Vicksburg National Military Park Saturday evening. The concert is held each Memorial Day weekend near the entrance of the park. (Courtland Wells | The Vicksburg Post)

From Birmingham to Baton Rouge, and right here in Vicksburg, locals and tourists alike flocked to the Vicksburg National Military Park to enjoy the seventh annual Memorial Day concert on Saturday.

An estimated crowd of 650 people came to listen and dance as the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra performed at the Park.

“One (group) drove over from Birmingham. They were here by mistake one year and loved it and then came back for this weekend. I talked to another couple that drove in from Baton Rouge for the concert,” said Bess Averett, executive director of Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign.

Averett added that the couple from Birmingham even volunteered to help put out flags at the Vicksburg National Cemetery on Friday.

This marked the seventh year that a concert was performed during the Memorial Day weekend at the Vicksburg National Military Park. Last year’s event was canceled because of inclement weather.

The crowds returned this year, from a wide range of both geographical locations and ages. The weekend also kicked off the popular living history summer demonstrations with artillery and cannons.

Averett deemed the event a success, and said the tradition of holding a concert on the Saturday before Memorial Day will continue.

“We had a really good mix of senior couples and young families,” Averett said.

Averett said there was also some dancing going on during the concert.

“There was this one little girl in the back and I think she literally danced from the first song to the last,” Averett said. “She took over the whole back of the grassy area and never stopped dancing. It was really cute to watch.”

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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