There wouldn’t be one person to ever accuse me of being a former cheerleader.

Despite my dashing physique and bubbly demeanor, I have never been asked about my cheerleading days, favorite cheers or could I still do a handstand, round off, twist, twice removed.

Just for the record, I don’t know if that’s a real thing, but it sounded impressive.

But, despite my lack of experience along the sidelines, I believe I am being called to become a cheerleader, as is everyone else. It’s a job — rather a responsibility — those of us who call Vicksburg and Warren County home must do.

This week roughly marks the one-year anniversary of my first visit to Vicksburg.

My wife and I came to learn more about the area we would potentially call home, touring the streets, visiting the stores, eating at local eateries and going on a house hunting adventure with Vanessa Dallas — formerly Vanessa Leach — that should be considered a world record for the most number of homes visited in one day.

As Stephanie and I took in all of Vicksburg — which admittedly came the same weekend as the finale of the Miss Mississippi pageant — we did our best to find a reason not to move. We looked for cracks in the armor, we looked for bad service, lackluster amenities; again any reason to not make the move.

Thankfully and without knowing it, Vicksburg impressed. The city — without knowing who we were, what my job was in the community, or anything about our family — rolled out the red carpet.

Even visiting First Baptist Church in Vicksburg that weekend, we found ourselves welcomed, greeted with amazing Southern charm and encouraged to make Vicksburg our home.

I have joked many times that even though Travis Vance was one of the first people we met in Vicksburg and welcomed us to Vicksburg, that we still decided to move to Vicksburg and have since joined First Baptist.

We live in a city that has more to offer than one can imagine, but the job of selling Vicksburg and Warren County does not fall on the shoulders of our realtors, our city leaders or those who work for the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau or Chamber of Commerce.

It is my job — our job.

It is our job to make sure we provide the best service, to greet our visitors with a smile, showcase the Southern charm that makes this place so special and show off the reason why many people call us the Red Carpet City.

Those who call Vicksburg home understand what it means to raise a family here, work here, play here, worship here, and it is up to all of us to share that message with anyone we can.

Those visiting our city for the weekend — whether it be the Vicksburg National Military Park, the casinos, the amazing downtown shopping or simply because it was the first rest area in Mississippi — deserve our best.

Those who were on their game the weekend Stephanie and I visited last summer did their job. It made all the difference in the world and convinced us this was the place we wanted to call home, this was the place we wanted to raise our family, play and worship.

It was one of the best decisions we have ever made and it is all because of some great Vicksburg cheerleaders. It’s time for all of us to join the squad.