Vicksburg's In The Running!

Vicksburg National Military Park Superintendent Mike Madell stands in front of the Illinois Memorial.  ~The Vicksburg Post

This is exciting that our Vicksburg National Military Park (VNMP) is in the running to be America's Favorite.  The contest is sponsored by the National Park Foundation, the Coca-Cola Company and Dr. Ian Smith, a medical/diet expert on VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club" and creator of the nationwide 50 Million Pound Challenge. 

Through the America Is Your Park campaign, all national and state parks in the US are in the running to be named the most popular park, and a title that comes with a $100.000 case prize.

"The VNMP is the crown jewel of America," said park historian Terry Winschel.  "We are the art park of the world."

The park was established in 1899, the 1,800-acre VNMP has about 1,350 historic monuments, markers and tablets.  It also features the country's largest cemetery for Civil War burials, containing about 18,000 grave sites.  The park's program include the Living History Program, which features live re-enactments of Civil War battles by volunteers, and Junior Ranger Day, a day for young children to learn about the park's history through interpretation and hands-on activities.  Among the accolades, the park was named weeks ago by readers of AAA Southern Traveler, an American Automobile Association publication, as the South's second-best heritage attraction behind the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.

The contest winner will be announed via a news release a week after the voting window closes.  A special event at the winning park will take place in September. 

Please take time to vote for our beautiful park by logging on to http://www.livepositively.com/ and cast a vote for the Vicksburg National Military Park.