Vicksburg may soon be sporting a tad more blue than normal thanks to a few local restaurants.

In the midst of national controversy surrounding America’s finest, a few downtown businesses are hoping to boost local law enforcement moral by offering blue ribbons to patrons in order to show support for those among us wearing a badge.

“We were just thinking of ways to show the police officers we support them,” said Lisa Martin of Martin’s at Midtown, who began the ribbon dispersion at her restaurant after she and friend Bill Ford wanted to find a way to encourage local officers. “We just decided this would be Paint the Town Blue week. It’s like wearing a hug for an officer.”

The ribbon and pins needed to make and pin the ribbons to those eating at the restaurant who want to support the Paint the Town Blue cause are from Hobby Lobby, she said.

“We’re hoping other people will do this,” she said. “It’s a very low cost and visible way to show you support the officers. It’s kind of low key, but it’s visible”

Debbie Banchetti Grantham of Dallas, who ate lunch at Martin’s Monday while visiting a friend, took a ribbon to show her support.

“We just had that horrible thing happen in Dallas, so anything to support a police department,” she said.

In the interest of spreading the blue, Martin contacted Main Street Market and Monsour’s at the Biscuit Co. downtown to see if they would be interested in the project as well.

“The more people the better,” Martin said, noting she has given away 30 ribbons in the day and a half she has been making and distributing them at her restaurant. “If everyone downtown did it, it would be incredible. It would be nice to get enough participation in town that officers who are out there saw them at Wal -Mart or the grocery store or wherever. Spread the blue.”

Sally Bullard of Main Street Market agreed the ribbons were a great way to show support and started giving them out late Tuesday.

“I think it’s important to support the work that our police officers are doing and to support people in our community that are doing the right things,” she said. “They’re the ones who respond if I need something.”

While Bullard said her ribbons were near the register for people to pick up as they leave, Kay Monsour of Monsour’s at the Biscuit Co. said waiters offer the ribbons to customers when they bring them their checks.

“We’re really going to start pushing it today,” she said on Wednesday. “Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are busy days, so we will give out quite a few.

“Being down town, we need (officers) badly, and they take very good care of downtown. That’s the main reason to just show appreciation.”

All three locations said they would be painting the town blue at least until the end of next week.