Marching Home
I had not expected to become a reporter but the few extra dollars for covering the local events for the newpaper down in Portland helped support my fishing habit. An interesting benefit was the ability to 'interview' people on various topics without the luxury or necessity of an opinion.Reporters are supposed to be objective so I was easily forgiven for not getting involved in the discussions of zoning changes, the costs of snow removal or the ever climbing tax rate. Plus, being fairly new in town, it kept me from offending any of the town elders.
Occasionally, I'd get a week's humor over some small ordinance that brought every nut out of the woodwork. Like last year when the town banned pink flamingoes, black men in jockey uniforms holding lanterns and similar hideous lawn ornaments. You'd think they were tampering with the Constitution the way some people whined.
But nothing polarized the town more than a welcome home party for our town's sweetheart and heroine, Johnnie.
Along with achieving straight "A"'s in school, garnering letters in soccer, basketball and track, she set a number of state records. There wasn't anyone within fifty miles that didn't recognize that angelic face with a permanent smile.
During her weekends and summer, she volunteered at the local hospital, trying to bring cheer to some of the children and adults. And her junior year, she was selected to do an internship at the largest newspaper in the state. It was decided that as soon as she got her degree, a staff position would be made available.
Her decision during her senior year to forego college long enough to serve in the military took everyone by surprise. Well, everyone but her uncle who had been annoying the town with his war stories for decades.
It was an unpopular war initiated by an unpopular president and the justification seemed more rumor and science fiction than fact.
Yet Johnnie felt a need to join the infantry and hopefully fulfill any need she felt for service to the government.
Somewhere during 2019, the second revolutionary war broke out. This time, it included Canada and Mexico. The primary reason was whether or not to continue to allow abortions.
After a month or so of chaos in most of the larger cities and nearly three million dead, the result was the United States of North America which now included much of Canada and parts of Mexico.
This national obsession with the right to life eventually led to the declaration of war against Uralasia, a godless nation created from parts of China and the old Soviet Union that offered free abortions upon demand.
As she had in school and in life, Johnnie was a shining star. She performed her military duties with honor and was twice granted medals for valor in saving her fellow warriors from enemy attacks.
Now she was on her way home and the town couldn't decide how best to greet her.
The anti-war crones wanted nothing to do with it and expected no town funds to be expended for any celebration.
The hawks were equally as vocal about wanting a limosine to bring her from the nearest airport back to town, a band from the school and a personal appearance by the mayor.
After three days and a few nights, the final decision was made to send the mayor. I'd cover for the newspaper and hopefully, get some video for the national news.
It was a somber ride to the airport with the pros in a couple vehicles and the antis in a couple others, each flashing their headlights or tooting their horn to show disapproval of the others.
And then the security at the airport. Everything short of a strip search and after a couple of hours, everyone was finally in place.
We heard the airplane taxi down the runway and eventually to the small building that served as a ticket window/departure gate and waiting area.
A few people came off the airplane looking a bit bewildered at all the people in the lobby. They had no clue.
Then all hell broke loose. A few held up banners saying "Welcome Home, Johnnie" and started cheering while an opposing sign said, "Murderer". Not much opinion between those two poles.
And the parents broke down as did many of her friends and relatives while others simply went silent as the casket was wheeled onto the tarmac to the nearby hearse.
I guess in retrospect, it did seem like a lot of hoopla for one dead soldier.