Tourism is a big business in Vicksburg and the Vicksburg National Military Park (VNMP) is our leading attraction. Evidence supporting this statement is backed by a report that was released by the National Park Service on Aug. 21, 2023. It reported that not only did 410,487 visitors come to the VNMP in 2022, but that there was $27. 1 million spent in Vicksburg and surrounding communities. This spending also supported 403 jobs in the local area, and it had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $36.5 million.

That’s a lot of dough. So, when anything threatens to impede progress at the park, the trickle down affects us locals. Therefore, in hearing talk about the effects of the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) efforts to downsize government spending as it pertains to the VNMP, at the Vicksburg Convention and Visitor’s Bureau’s March board meeting, I knew as a reporter for The Vicksburg Post, there would be others who would appreciate being enlightened.

Not necessarily because I wanted them to be angry with the current political climate. I just knew folks needed to know, so they could understand the situation and possibly lend a hand if needed.

In the past few weeks, since DOGE’s cutbacks, the VNMP has lost eight of its employees. One of these took the early buyout and the remaining seven were considered either as “probational,” – which meant they had been in their current position for less than a year — so not on probation for their conduct or performance, or had been hired for a special project.

The VNMP had hired an archaeologist for a special cemetery project. The remains of almost 104 unknown American soldiers had to be disinterred in order to stabilize the shifting landscape, all while their remains are being housed in a state-of-the-art facility. His work included processing artifacts associated with the burial recovery, working toward DNA analysis and restoring the identity of the disinterred and unknown soldiers. But because this was a “special project” and his services had just been re-upped for two years, it was considered probationary.

Other positions terminated included a fee collector and four full-time maintenance staff — and for those of you who are like me and enjoy walking or running in the park, you know how vital it is to keep the grass cut and the roads in good repair.

As for the educational specialist who was also let go, this means no junior ranger camps this summer, which I guess means Douglas the Camel may not show up either.

While losing eight employees may not sound like a big deal to some, folks need to know the VNMP experienced far greater cutbacks than other parks around the country. In fact, we were the third largest cut in the country at 30%. Other parks saw only 5% or 6% cuts. Still others saw just 1% or 2%.

Part of the reason the VNMP was hit so hard was, as I mentioned earlier, seven employees had been in their current positions for less than a year, which was part of the DOGE criteria, for whatever reason.

This staffing shortage, like any other business that has to make cuts, does not mean the VNMP will close. It just means those who still have a job may have to pivot and help fill the void, or that we, the local keepers of the park, may need to step up when asked to volunteer our services, which is one of the reasons for me bringing to light the situation.

There are some in our community who felt like efforts to report on this situation were nefarious.

That was certainly not the case.

Most of those who had a negative reaction to our reporting did so online. But, may I suggest that instead of writing on Facebook, why not pick up a pen and piece of paper and let our state senators and representatives know we need them to rally around the VNMP, because it is not only a Vicksburg asset, it is a Mississippi asset. And perhaps when they hear the outcry of our voices and an expression of our views and frustrations, they will go to bat for Mississippi.

And if not, we have a voice at the voter box.

The VNMP is sacred ground and I feel confident that, through the efforts of all those who work to make it a success, it will continue as long as it has our support, be it getting down and dirty in lending a hand or through a donation.

Terri Cowart Frazier writes features for The Vicksburg Post. She can be reached at terri.frazier@vicksburgpost.com.