The 81-Year Grudge

I love the 4^th of July! It’s one of my favorite holidays. I’ve said it before, several times, I love all things patriotic. Patriotic music always makes my chest swell with pride. Putting my hand over my heart during the national anthem reminds me of all the sacrifices our founding fathers endured so that we can have the freedoms we enjoy today.

Another anniversary of America’s independence has come and gone but it always sort of makes me laugh when I observe how this holiday is celebrated here in Vicksburg. You see, July 4^th is not a day a lot of true-blue, hardcore, southern roots-all-the-way-down-to-the-magma folks like to “celebrate.” In fact, for 81 years, the city of Vicksburg did NOT celebrate Independence Day. 81 years!!!

You see, the surrender of Vicksburg by Confederate General John C. Pemberton to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on July 4, 1863, was not a cause for celebration. During the 47-day siege, the city was bombarded every day. At the time of surrender, the starving population of the city had been reduced to eating mules, dogs, cats and even rats. The water was contaminated. People were living in caves for protection against cannon and artillery fire. It was impossible for supplies to get in or people to get out. Anyone here who has a relative who fought in the War of Northern Aggression still has qualms about celebrating America’s independence because of the much-closer-to-home surrender on this date. They want to, but there’s that history to think about.

Silly? Perhaps to some. But, before you get on your soapbox and preach about the southern way of life, spend some time down here and you’ll start to understand that being southern born and bred means something even 150 years after the War Between the States ended. It’s sort of like being proud of your German heritage or your Irish ancestry. Being southern is simply that, an intrinsic cultural lifestyle that’s quite possibly even linked to DNA and produces some of the most beautiful and proud people in America today. Why would you want to change that? People here have embraced their heritage and work hard to preserve it. They don’t try to hide the ugly parts they embrace the facts and try to do better.

Anyway, it was not until after World War II, in 1945, that Vicksburg joined the rest of the nation in the celebration of Independence Day. The patriotic fervor after the war and a visit by General Dwight D. Eisenhower set the stage for a return to celebrating the birth of our nation. Thank goodness for Old Ike because I, for one, love fireworks and spreading my patriotic joy even in this less than enthusiastic sleepy little town. Vicksburg is coming around, but as an old southern gal once said, “the wheels turn a little slower down here in the south.” And I’m okay with that too. It’s part of the charm and mystique of southern culture.

I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend. Did you do anything fun you wish to share? Are you patriotic? Do you think 81 years is long enough to hold a grudge?

Word of the Day: Sedulous

Fun fact about me: I’ve become quite adept at folding fitted sheets and no, I don’t do that tucking the corners into the other corners either. My way is much easier and neater.

Original post by Jansen Schmidt, July 2021. Images by Google and giphy.com

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