JEFFREY FINALLY CAME HOME

Everybody, in the town of Cape Elisabeth, who had met Jeffrey Lance was delighted with his gentle character of a real gentleman. Jeffrey always wore his cowboy hat and greeted everyone on his way to his favorite coffee shop, The Bard Cafe where poetry lovers used to gather and recite a few lines from " Much Ado About Nothing " while sipping the aromatic coffee just brewed. Lines from other plays were also recited to honor Shakespeare known as the Bard of Stafford-upon-Avon. They celebrated his genius that was as much popular in his day as it is today. There was a competition of character, a rivalry to embody the main character of a certain play. Men choose Othello and Macbeth, women chose Katarina and Cleopatra.

While chatting with one of his acquaintances, over the radio came an urgent message: the USA is sending military forces to defend Vietnam, this was not a declaration of war. " Jeffrey jolted from his seat and spilled his coffee on the table incidentally knocking it down with his elbow. He got shocking looks from the patron and other customers. Silence reigned in the Bard Cafe. They stood silent as sadness overwhelmed their thoughts.

Nancy ran to his table holding a rag and muttered, " Are you ok, Jeffrey? You can take the other table while I clean up the mess. " " I'm fine, and I'm sorry to have spilled the coffee. This news is too hard to swallow, we are at war once again! " The gloominess intensified in his patriotic eyes, " We must fight an enemy that threatens our freedom and the freedom of others! " There was the loudest applause breaking the daft silence surrounding them. Lisa, a girl of ten, climbed on his legs and whispered," Be safe and God be with you, airman! " He thanked her by patting her soft hair so golden and curly, then turned his stern glance to the emotional faces and exclaimed, " I must get ready and report to the nearest recruit station, I miss you guys and the daily gatherings of poetry...if Shakespeare were alive, he would write a new play, but a very sad one. " And standing up, he turned away feeling a sadness never felt before...worrying about the family he had to leave behind. The harsh winter had almost ended, snow was finally melting under the semi-warm Maine sun. That should have been a day for celebration, but solemnness was taking over those sympathetic looks that minutes before were cheerful and vibrant with life. The barista and each customer hugged Jeffrey and wished him well. They were part of his life and shared the ups and downs that came with it. The year was February 1954 and the Vietnam War would last for fourteen long years. Young men were drafted: they were the fragile flowers swept away by the whooshing winds of war, many were injured severely, others never returned to their beloved Motherland.

Jeffrey had a beautiful family: a pretty wife, two boys, and two girls who were twins; he was very close to them and took care of them and protected them from the evils of society in the best way he knew how. They grew up happy and healthy without knowing any hurdles. Their youth was spent with assurance and serenity unlikely the wild kids who binged and got in trouble, staying out late and starting fights. Jeffrey adored his kids, they were obedient and he praised them highly when friends asked about them. " Love your kids and they will honor you. " this was his motto.

The next day Jeffrey, being a brave and devoted airman accepted his mission and left the Bangor Air National Base. He looked forward, never looking back, and fall short of his duty and alliance to the flag of the United States. He whispered a brief prayer and took off into the icy and cloudless sky overlooking the wintry mainland. Only God saw his flowing tears and felt his piercing pain. Vietnam was thousands of miles away: what did await him in a country he hardly knew, and what were the challenges ahead? Jeffrey was an airman and a soldier of valor. Jeffery also served in the Korean War. He was awarded many honors and was the pride of his town. He's old now and tells his grown-up kids the incredible stories of his military life, and staring at his own portrait on the wall of his studio, he proudly smiles: aren't his amazing achievements worth remembering?