North Caldwell, Texan Crews Exchange Flags Months After Hurricane Sandy

The following is a letter from North Caldwell Mayor Joe Alessi. 

It has been about nine months since Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on us.  There has been a lot of rebuilding since then thanks to Governor Christie, FEMA, other state and federal agencies and so many people.  All of this done, as my daughter Dena in San Francisco would say, "Jersey  Style,” a.k.a. tenacious, tough, strong and with more spirit then mere mortals thought was possible.

The volunteers, workers, firemen and woman, first responders, EMT, linemen/ utility workers came from all over the country from California, Georgia, Colorado and Texas. 

Thank God in North Caldwell were spared the horrible devastation that so many others endured throughout the state. For the most part our biggest challenges were the downed trees and the loss of power they caused. We spent what seemed like an eternity without electricity.  

I want to say that PSE&G and workers from all over the US worked tirelessly going above and beyond. I know for a fact that at times they worked after dark even thought they were not supposed to just to help out residents.

I was fortunate to be able to meet some of the linemen who in some instances traveled thousands of miles to come to our rescue. Up front I want to disclose my bias towards Texas. 

I have only been to the Lone Star State once when I was driving cross country to college. But I was lucky enough to attend three GOP conventions and always found the Texas delegation to be the best. They were the most colorful, sociable, warm and fun loving. And there was no mistaking which of the 50 states they represented.  

One afternoon I was driving around to see how the work was progressing when I came across this utility truck with about six guys working. The truck had a small Texas flag on the top. I thanked them for all their hard work and for coming here. To a man each of the linemen told me how nice the people of North Caldwell were to them and how much they appreciated the way residents were treating them.  

I told them I was a big fan of Texas and how I loved the flag on their truck. One of the guys said that when he got back home he would send me a flag. A nice gesture in the moment I thought but hard to believe he would remember and send it. 

Last month I was at my law office when I received a Federal Express package. Sure enough inside was this huge Texas flag and the following letter:

Dear Mayor Alessi,

My name is Jason Beard and I am a lineman from Houston, TX. I had the pleasure of meeting you one day while working on the power lines in North Caldwell after the effects of Hurricane Sandy, and I promised you a Texas flag. Mayor, as a token of my thanks to yall's wonderful hospitality, here is a Texas flag. 

The people of North Caldwell, NJ were incredibly nice especially considering the recent events. It seemed that each person I talked to had a heart of gold, and let me tell you, that is such a nice thing to see when you are so far from home. I will never forget my experience in yall's wonderful town of North Caldwell and I hope everything is getting back to normal.

Sincerely, 

Jason Beard

Imagine Jason sent me the flag “as a token of [his] thanks to yall’s wonderful hospitality ... I will never forget my experience in yall's wonderful town of North Caldwell."  I should have known that he would follow through — after all, Jason is a Texan and his word is his bond. Needless to say I was overjoyed.

Now I had to show my new found friend Jason Beard a taste of our northern hospitality and gratitude Jersey Style.

What to do?

Of course I had to send Jason our state flag. My good friend Assemblyman Jay Webber  (I've known Jay for close to 20 years and am happy to say that he represents us in the 26th) came up with a great idea. He had the New Jersey State flag flown over the state capital in Trenton. 

I received that with a certificate saying it was flown on top of the golden dome. I went down to Asbury Park and bought Jason a box of New Jersey’s own salt water taffy and a tee shirt that says “Jersey Strong.” I am also sending a North Caldwell DPW cap.

As the saying goes, "There is no ill wind that doesn't blow some good" (pun intended). Now my biggest dilemma is can I get to keep the flag? In any event I am going to hang it in my office at Borough Hall. 

Everything is bigger in Texas including their hearts especially in Houston.  And Jason, “Hook'em Horns and Viva Texas!”