This is my very first attempt to capture my emotions, thoughts and whatever comes to mind with this week’s theme about the first of ninety-nine Foxboro letters — beginning with the earliest dated October 18, 1968.
For this one it is the First Day Issue stamp with the matching envelope with the image of John Trumbull, in the letter dated October 18, 1968.
As I said on my introduction video last week this is a new territory I am about to venture into — which is interesting and honestly I have to say even just typing I am a bit nervous because I do not have a clue.
In other words what I saw in my vision is that like I was sent to a battle zone, stood in the middle of the field without any tools to even protect myself, so I look around and plan an action how to proceed forward.
And this is how I imagine myself for now — then I saw myself drop down and started crawling in the field of grass aiming to find a hideout nearby to hide until the battle is over so I can place my next move.
This is the best I can explain writing this blog with John Trumbull in tow.
Reading the letter I salute Rexford A. Bristol, Chairman, Board of Directors — first instead of John Trumbull — because he featured him and here is where Rexford’s voice begins to come alive.
Rexford mentioned in his letter “The Battle of Bunker’s Hill” — a historic revolutionary war engagement near Boston.
My response is I heard about Bunker’s Hill but didn’t really go further in knowing more.
Then I decided to hold the letter and smell it instead — and that aging paper smell attached to the paper. It is folded with intention — a deliberate pattern still intact. The letterhead still readable but the original color perhaps was yellow to now gray.
Rexford also mentioned the word “sacrifices” — invariably are demanded — a word even to this day is practiced and a choice we have to act on in order to see whatever we decide will be the outcome.
Another word mentioned is “loyalties” — on both sides were vigorously challenged — and yes to this day it has the same function.
But it seems loyalty is becoming rare as most people struggle to commit to what they believe in when it doesn’t produce a good benefit to them.
This is only my assumption and my opinion anyway.
I do liked when he said — “yet, out of this period of deep travail, came guarantees never before charted for a nation of its people. But freedom is not a static thing. America’s posture should be vigilant against every incursion form within and without.”
My response to this is — Rexford is patriotic to American history of his time. With me, English is my second language and I do not know American history — but with every writing I share here from the author I will learn them as well, which I find humbling.
I am now on the last stage of the letter when the writer said — although vacation travel is largely over — he suggested a business trip which may bring the receiver of this letter to New England. He suggested to visit Bunker Hill monument in Boston or see Trumbull’s painting in New Haven as well.
His closing — he is only a relatively few highway miles from where The Foxboro main manufacturing plant is located — and he is inviting the recipient to stop by his office where he will provide a conducted tour of their modern research, engineering and assembly facilities.
Wow — I just felt power in Rexford’s writing.
And when I meant POWER — his letter has pull and weight.
This first letter alone tells me he was a strategically minded business man with a plan.
Huh — I guess it is not really hard to write a story on a theme I have never ventured into or had experience writing in the past.
