The porches have been swept and the silver polished, the only thing left is for each of us to put on our game faces and get ready for action.

Saturday, Natchez kicked off its annual Spring Pilgrimage, which means all of us need to be on our A game in the weeks ahead.

During pilgrimage people from around the world will come to Natchez to enjoy what we often take for granted each day — our history.

It’s easy for us to forget just how beautiful our area is.

It’s easy to forget how amazingly lucky we are to have such a spectacular collection of historic buildings literally all across our area.

Our community is blessed to have such great tourism assets and even more blessed that thousands of people are willing to come here to explore our home community.

Creating a welcoming environment for those tourists is not someone else’s job. It’s everyone’s responsibility.

In the days ahead we all need to be a little more patient while driving as out-of-towners are easily lost, turned around and, on occasion, quick to turn the wrong way on one of downtown’s one-way streets.

Beyond that, a few other simple things could help pave the way to a nice trip for tourists. If you see someone out and about, give them a smile and if they look lost, offer to help them.

Our history will bring visitors here. Our welcoming residents will keep them coming back and telling their friends.