A home to history and southern hospitality, Vicksburg is know for its charm and its heritage, but the Red Carpet City has more than just a link to national history through the Vicksburg National Military Park.

Vicksburg is home for approximately 5,000 U.S. military veterans.

“That includes those who served a month to retirement,” Michelle Stewart, a member of the Veterans Day committee and first vice commander of American Legion Post 213, said. “That’s a big population of veterans, and a lot of them shy away from recognition.”

This Veterans Day, Nov. 11, the Vicksburg Convention Center, in partnership with many local businesses, is honoring local veterans through a Liberty Luncheon at the Vicksburg Convention Center at noon, following a Veterans Day parade downtown at 9:30 a.m. and a ceremony in the Memorial Rose Garden at 11 a.m. on Monroe Street.

“It’s just an in-house event that we do for the community,” Sue Bagby of the VCC said.

The Liberty Luncheon is free for veterans, she said, and is made possible by more than 20 sponsorships from businesses in the community.

Stewart described the luncheon as a way to give back to those who have served our country, and this year, for the first time, the event will feature at Wall of Honor displaying those who have served.

“A lot of veterans that come to the parade, (and) you don’t know they’re veterans,” she said. “When we walk in the parade, we shake hands along the way, and they’ll have on a T-shirt or a pin or a cap, but they’re not part of any veterans organizations or any of the posts, they’re just here living quietly after serving their time, and it’s just a way to honor those people.”

The Liberty Luncheon is free of charge for veterans and $15 per person for non-veterans, Busby said. Reservations are required to attend and the deadline to submit Wall of Honor information, including name, service, dates of service and occupation, is Oct. 28. Information forms are available at the convention center, the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1619 Walnut St., a local American Legion Post or The Vicksburg Post.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to show our appreciation for our military personnel who have selflessly sacrificed for the freedom of all Americans,” according to a VCC press release. “Supporting the military community is very important, and we hope our veterans and active duty military will join us on Veterans Day for all the special activities.”

For more information or to make reservations, call 601-630-2929.