Cannon Firing @ VNMP

Plaque at old bunker.

Where the cannon firing had been held at this bunker through the years.

  

The Vicksburg National Military Park (VNMP) Visitor Center.

 Different cannon displays at the park.

Looking back towards the Visitor Center in VNMP on 4th of July.

An entrance arch to VNMP.

Looking back towards the VNMP Visitor Center.

The surrender site of the Siege of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863 on Pemberton Avenue.

Yesterday, I made the trip to The Vicksburg National Military Park to video a cannon firing to commemorate the 153rd anniversary of the surrender of Vicksburg by General John C. Pemberton to General Ulysses S. Grant on July 4, 1863. 

A cannon detachment was fired on every hour between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. excluding the noon hour Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Tour Stop 1 Battery De Golyer.  I missed the 1:00 firing and went back to the visitor center to watch the movie, The Siege of Vicksburg.  As I was leaving the center everyone was told that the 2:00 firing was cancelled because the weather was threatening with thunder and dark clouds.   

I did not read in the paper about it being held at Tour Stop 1 since it has always been near the VNMP Visitor Center.  

Hourly cannon fire demonstrations near the visitor center have been a staple at the park for many summers, but because the park no longer has a ranger who is black powder certified, this holiday weekend was the only time there was cannon fire at the park this year.  

A group of volunteer safety officers work together to fire a pound of gunpowder from the cannon detachment safely.  Many of the volunteers have come back year after year and some have joined the service.  

Even though the cannon fire is all for show, that doesn't mean their job is not dangerous.  The group always runs the risk of getting injured because they are using an actual cannon.

Although Vicksburg commemorates the holiday now, the Fourth of July was not so openly celebrated in Vicksburg for years after the surrender.

The Confederate sympathizers didn't celebrate until Eisenhower's visit.  It took victory over the Nazis in World War II for Vicksburg to connect with their American patriotism and begin to celebrate the national holiday again as the Cold War was heating up.  

Time heals all wounds!

The post-war patriotism only lasted so long and did not reach full momentum until the country's bicentennial in 1976.  Some say even as late as the 1990's the holiday was not a major summer staple.    

Soldiers' Rest

Cedar Hill Cemetery

Vicksburg, Mississippi

Celebrating Independence Day!

I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free.

And I wont forget the men who died,who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,next to you and defend her still today.

Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA!

First Fish & First of Night

Joe Clark of Paulding, OH, took his 7 years old nephew river fishing for his first time and he caught the first one of the night.  Only 6 pounds but it was plenty for him and he loved it.  What an epic look on his face!  My congrats to this young fellow and may he have many more fishing trips to come.  Way to go in our great wild and wonderful outdoors!

Addyson's First Fish!

Chuck Stogdill of Bloomfield, Iowa, is holding his daughter Addyson's very first fish.  Looks like she is in wonderment about it. What a wonderful thing to do by taking his daughter fishing in our great wild outdoors.  Way to go Dad!  My congrats to little Addyson.  Looks like he has a new fishing partner! 

Chuck with his new fishing partner, Addyson Paige!

Daughter's First Fish

 

Blair Ashton of Orlando, Florida took his daughter fishing and she caught her very first fish.  He said she even kissed it before the release.  Raising her right in our great and wonderful wild outdoors. My congrats to this precious little girl.  What a sweet photo of a proud Dad with his daughter!

Abigail's Catfish!

Jordan Davis of West Lincoln, Mississippi, younger sister, Abigail caught this catfish out of their grown up pond recently.  She did great in our wild and wonderful outdoors.  My congrats, Abigail!

Brother's Went Fishing Yesterday!

Justin Miller of Edwardsville, Illinois took his two sons fishing yesterday afternoon and look what they caught!  

His 2-years-old very first fish!  WOW!

They look so proud of their catch in our great wild and wonderful outdoors!  Justin is raising his sons right!  Congratulations to these two little guys!  Way to go!

MS Hog Hunt

Out On A Stroll

This bear here is a photo by The Vicksburg Police Department, has been spotted a number of times Sunday afternoon near downtown Vicksburg and the Vicksburg National Military Park.

Vicksburg and Warren County authorities asking residents in downtown Vicksburg and those around the Vicksburg National Military Park to be aware of a bear who appears to "be out on a stroll."

As early as 11:00 a.m. Sunday, authorities with the Vicksburg Police Department, Warren Count Sheriffs Department and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks were out tracking the movements of a bear through portions of downtown Vicksburg.

"He does not appear to be aggressive and he doesn't appear to be in any kind of a hurry." Vicksburg Police Walter Armstrong said Sunday afternoon.  "He just seems to be out on a stroll.  

Armstrong said one of the sighting had the bear near the area of Alcorn Street and East Main Street in downtown Vicksburg.  The bear was apparently heading north in the direction of the park.

Vicksburg May George Flaggs said a sighting of a bear in downtown Vicksburg is not very common.

"We are accustomed to having bear sightings on the north side of the city, but never this far into town," Flaggs said.  "This is highly unusual."

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said he and other officials have seen the bear multiple times throughout the morning and afternoon and the bear just seems to be "moving along."

"We have seen him a number of times and he has been on the move the entire time," Pace said.  "In fact, he has crossed several main thoroughfares through his walk through Vicksburg.  The last spotting had him moving back in the general direction of the north city limits near the military park."

Officials have urged residents to not approach the bear, but if you see it, you are asked to leave the bear alone, move indoors and call 911.

"Just leave the bear along," Pace said.  "He's moving and he'll move along.  We don't want anyone endangered and we don't want the bear endangered."

It's That Time Of Year

While the sighting of a black bear in downtown Vicksburg is unusual, seeing bears this time of year is not.

According to Richard Rummel, the black bear biologist with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, there are three factors, or reasons, why seeing a black bear this time of year is more common.

"Right now, the natural foods they enjoy are just coming out," Rummel said, saying that bears look for blackberries, blueberries and other fruits that are just now available.  "For most of the year so far, they have eaten grass and other vegetation, so they are just looking for an easy meal."

Rummel said this is also the time of year that bears breed and that cubs born in January 2015 are now old enough to be "Kicked out of the house" by the mothers and are starting to roam.

"There are a lot of sightings this time of the year because it is just a perfect storm of factors," Rummel said. "In this case, the bear is acting just like a bear should act."

Docile and shy by nature, Rummel did urge residents to keep their distance from a bear so that it doesn't feel cornered or threatened.

Residents are asked to keep their garbage secured and pick up any pet foot that might be left on patios or porches.

"Black bears have an incredible sense of smell and memory," Rummel said. "If they find some food left out one night, there's a chance they will come back the next night and so on."

He also suggested that bears, again looking for an easy meal, will look for any fruit that might have fallen from trees in yards.

"If you have a fruit tree in your yard, try to pick up any of the fruit that has fallen on the ground." Rummel said.  "It doesn't matter to the bear how ripe or rancid the fruit is, they will be attracted to the smell of it."

In the end, Rummel again asked anyone who comes up on the bear, or sees the bear, to simply leave it along.

"From what we have heard, this bear is just passing through," Rummel said.  "Leave it alone and let it go where it was going."

We Have A New Miss Mississippi!

A new Miss Mississippi was crowned in my hometown of Vicksburg, Mississippi last night at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

Miss Dixie Laura Lee Lewis is the 2016 Miss Mississippi.  She was also crowned Miss Mississippi's Outstanding Teen in 2009, was also named second runner-up in the Miss Mississippi in 2013, first runner-up in 2014 and second runner-up again in 2015.

"They say third time is the charm, but I guess in my case it's the fourth."

Winning the title of Miss Mississippi is just the beginning, Lewis said.  The 23-year-old Brookhaven native already has her eye on the bigger crown.

"We are going to Miss America.  We are going to Atlantic City and bring home the Miss America crown.  It is time to bring it home; back to where it belongs, so it is my mission to not only represent Mississippi well at Miss American, but to make an impact on our nation by telling people they're valued and loved in a time when we really need it most," Lewis said.

For the talent phase of the competition, Lewis performed a vocal arrangement of Barbara Streisand's "A Piece of Sky."

Along with the Miss Mississippi title and crown, Lewis receives a $10,000 scholarship.

Miss Turtle Creek Anne Elizabeth Buys of Vicksburg was named first runner up and was awarded a $7,500 scholarship; Miss Amory Molly May of Houston was second and was awarded $5,000; Miss Tombigbee Holly Harrington of Tupelo was third and was awarded $2,500; and Miss Deep River Mia Hall of Meridian was fourth and was awarded a $2,500 scholarship.

Mike's Deer Friends!

My Facebook friend, Mike Persichini, loves to take pictures of his deer friends in our wild and wonderful outdoors.  He's lucky to have a place at home and in the woods to do so.  Here are some I'm sharing with you to enjoy with his endorsement.

He is 3 inches past his ears now which should mean at least 24 inches wide!!

Last year!   

Some Swamp Frogs

How cute is this!  Belinda Johnson's nephew got him two swamp frogs way down in Louisiana.  Looks like he is being raised right in our great wild outdoors.  Way to go little fellow!  

A Busy Waterfront In Vicksburg, Mississippi

Yesterday I made it downtown to the waterfront to find not only the Grand American Queen but the Queen of the Mississippi and Corps of Engineers, M/V William James, moored.  

Queen Of The Mississippi

The American Queen between the trees.

High black smoke stakes peeking though the trees.

The Corps of Engineers M/V William James also moored at the waterfront.  

It's time for passengers to board and leave Vicksburg after a day of enjoying our civil war town of hallowed ground.

It's just enough room to squeeze in!  

Taken by my Facebook friend, Joyce Morrell Shinn, who was dining at 10 South Rooftop Bar and Grill.  She got this awesome shot of the American Queen moored in the Yazoo Diversion Canal with Lake Centennial in the background.

Cooper's First Hog

Steve Cooper wants everyone to congratulate Cooper's very first hog in our great wild outdoors!  I'm very proud of him.  I was 74 years old before I got my first one, actually two at one time.  Steve is prostaff for Watson Air Lock.  My congrats on your hog, Cooper! Way to go!

www.WatsonAirLock.com 

www.facebook.com/WatsonAirLock

www.facebook.com/WatsonAirLock.ProStaff 

Happy 26th Birthday, Carl!

My grandson, Carlton "Carl" is 26 years old today and of course I'm very proud of him!  He now lives in Wisconsin and I miss and love him so much!  Wishing you a Happy Birthday with love from Gran Gran!  

Carl and I many years ago!

Happy 32nd Birthday, Sonya Michelle!

It's hard to believe that my first granddaughter is 32 years old today! Seems like yesterday she was born. I'm so proud of you Sonya Michelle and wishing you a very Happy 32nd Birthday! With all my love!  
Gran Gran