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By Makaylee Randolph Staff Writer mrandolphadvance@gmail.com

Community members lined the sides of Airport Road on Monday night, October 7, as they cheered and thanked the numerous linemen, tree-cutting crews, and right-of-way workers who have helped to restore power to the area following Hurricane Helene.

Cheers of “thank you!” and signs expressing admiration for the men’s and women’s hard work welcomed the crews into the entrance of the Vidalia Regional Airport, where a large camp was staged to house these workers. The Vidalia High School SoundTribe filled the air with joyful music, and the Vidalia High School Cheerleaders rallied with each passing vehicle.

“The parade for the lineman was one of the most heartwarming things I’ve ever personally witnessed. Our community is so resilient. Through the face of devastation, we remain thankful and grateful. Don’t ever lose that!” Vidalia Mayor Doug Roper emphasized. “Many of these lineman left personal devastation at their homes to come to our aid. Many who showed up [Monday night] still do not have power at their homes, but they remain thankful and showed up to exhibit their gratitude. That true measure of the heart is contagious and should engulf every member of our community.”

Roper shared that one moment that stood out during the event was when a lineman approached Lyons Public Information Office Lindsay Wiggins and told her that this sort of gratitude was something he had never before experienced. The lineman had worked for 41 years in the field, but he had never seen anything like this parade in his entire career, as the event moved him to tears.

The event was a time of great thanks and jubilee, as the community thanked those who showed up when they were needed most.