Jackson Free Press

On Tuesday, June 26, Mayor Frank Melton entertained Gov. Nguyen Van Cuong of the Hung Yen Province of Vietnam, and thought it fitting that the visiting diplomat should have dinner at Saigon, a Vietnamese restaurant in Flowood.

Outside, several police cruisers sat in the parking lot, while inside at nearly every table were men and women in business suits. Several of the women took it upon themselves to help the waiters, walking up to tables holding dishes, attempting to sort out exactly who ordered what.

As the dinner came to a close, Melton stood up and with the aid of a translator, told the governor that it had been an educational day-and-a-half and presented him with a pair of black leather cowboy boots to help him remember his visit

"Everybody calls me Frank," Melton said, promising to personally drive the governor to the airport for his 3 a.m. flight.

The governor's translator invited the mayor to soon visit Vietnam. Melton responded that not only did he plan on heading over to Vietnam (with a hard "A" in the last syllable) but that he was more than sure that the people of Jackson would be happy to pay for his ticket.