Now that was a party.
For the nearly 10,000 people who crammed city sidewalks Saturday to catch a glimpse of Super Bowl XLIX hero and Vicksburg native Malcolm Butler during a special parade, or the hundreds who squeezed into the Vicksburg Convention Center to see Butler receive the key to the city, or the countless others who were lucky enough to get the New England Patriots cornerback’s autograph, Saturday will be a day no one will soon forget.
The city of Vicksburg rolled out the red carpet as only it can, and this time it was for one of its own.
Malcolm’s story is an amazing one, well documented by not only this newspaper but media outlets throughout the country and world. He overcame a rough start to his collegiate career, only to land a spot on the New England Patriots roster as a undrafted free agent.
Saturday proved to be the perfect ending to the most unlikely of stories.
But, behind the festivities and celebrations was an army of city employees, convention center staff members and committees of volunteers who had one single focus; to honor Malcolm Butler.
As the last autograph was being signed, convention center employees were sitting back, finally catching their breath from a day that not only included a massive celebration and autograph event, but the ending to another large convention.
As the last autograph was being signed, dozens of police officers and sheriff deputies remained at their station and barricade, providing security and guidance to the massive crowds.
This armada of employees and volunteers also included those tasked with cleaning up confetti from the downtown parade and those asked to place the parade and road barricades back in storage.
Saturday’s celebration was about one man — a son of Vicksburg — but it took far more than one person, or 100 persons, to stage such a production.
To the city of Vicksburg, to the volunteers, to the Vicksburg Convention Center staff and to all of those this page simply doesn’t provide space to mention, well done. You did Vicksburg proud Saturday and provided a fitting tribute to a Vicksburg native well worth celebrating.