The above two badges are a matching set. As one can see they are clearly from "WEST NEW YORK," but where exactly is that?
I am sure some TV trivia guys are speculating that this is the newer land mass added to the original waterfront of "The Big Apple" back in the 1800's. But to find it, you have to go further West, and across the Hudson River, to New Jersey.
So lets say you start your journey to find West N.Y. at the Intrepid Museum. The retired Aircraft Carrier is tied up at the current edge of Manhattan. Directly across the river is Jersey City. From there take a hike on JFK Blvd. up the cliff's, to a speck of land just over a mile squared, and you found the second highest populated area in New Jersey. There are over 50,000 people living here.
This is a community that has a view of the Big Apple like no other. From its' high point of 150' it has a view up, down, and across the beautiful Hudson River into Mid-Town Manhattan.
Just off its' shoreline was the scene of Capt. Sullenberger's dramatic "Water Landing," of Flight 1549. This took place Jan. 15, 2009. Public Safety and Emergency workers deployed from West New York and were among the first to arrive at the scene to help survivors. Only a decade ago we all watched a major motion picture that followed this event.
There is a Police Dept in this Community on the Palisades in New Jersey. They are roughly 120 strong. They do a fine job for their citizens and stay out of the public's eye for the most part. Their assistance in the "Water Landing" of Fl 1549 brought them positive recognition ten years ago, and the same positive approach to the job continues today.
The set of badges I obtained at a Titusville Badge and Patch Show several years ago look like they are identical to those in use in NYC. The style is the same, but of course the wording is different. Also the "Seals" are different. The WEST NEW YORK Badge has a "N.J. State Seal" stamped into its' body. Note that there is a distinctive "Horse Head" located at its' top. Looking closer, at the Badge, and on the bottom you will note that there are letters - "N. J."
The Hat Badge is basically, in the shape of the State Seal, but carries a number box at its' bottom. This is a common design in New Jersey. In this case the number is 101, which corresponds with the number on the breast Badge, completing the Set.
I have both badges "under glass" in a display case that hangs on my wall. I try to give them a daily look and to conjure up some memories of days gone by. My collection is a great source of those memories and I am very pleased to have them both.
