My wife, Jane, and I attended the Republican National Convention in New York City, I as an alternate delegate elected from Congressional District 6 in Texas and Jane as my guest. After attending the third session of the convention on Tuesday night, August 31, I went across the street from Madison Square Garden and awaited the arrival of Jane, who was seated in a different section of Madison Square Garden, and some of the other attendees from Texas. We were all going to meet up and go to a party that was being held in honor of the Texas delegation.

While waiting for Jane’s arrival, I stood talking to a group of about six New York City police officers. I was telling them how much we appreciated all the work they were doing and how they were great ambassadors for the City of New York. The entire convention was talking about how friendly and helpful the NYPD was and that they were proving to be America’s Police Force.

One of the police officers asked me if I would like to trade my Stetson cowboy hat for his police hat. I asked him if he was serious and he replied, “Yes.” We traded hats, which happened to be the exact same size, and I continued to stand there wearing my newly acquired police hat.

A few delegates from New Mexico came by while I was standing there. One of them asked about my hat and we told him the story. He liked the story so much that he gave each of us a pin from New Mexico.

Shortly thereafter, my wife and several other delegates from Texas showed up. At first Jane didn’t recognize me with the police hat on so I called out to her. She, and the rest of the delegates, heard the story of the hat with typical Texas enthusiasm, and a policewoman who was among the group asked Jane if she would like to also exchange hats.

The officer turned her hat over and pointed to a pin she had attached to the inside of her hat. She told my wife that it was the pin given to her after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Jane smiled and said, “Let’s take this out because I’m sure you want to keep it.”

The officer looked into Jane’s eyes and re turned the smile as she reached out and placed her hand on Jane’s arm and said, “No. I want you to have it.” Tears welled up in the eyes of the two new friends as they embraced, a Texas political leader and a New York police officer. The story spread throughout the NYPD and the Texas delegation and created a bonding to where our delegation and the NYPD were recognized with a special look you see between two special friends.

The next night, an NYPD detective recognized my wife and took her from the stands to meet the brother-in-law of the policewoman she had traded hats with. He then called the officer, and Jane and the officer talked for a few minutes by phone.

The last night of the convention, other officers were having their pictures taken on the floor with cowboy hats and by the end of the night many other delegates had traded hats. It will be a long time before the NYPD forgets the Texas Republican delegates. It will be even longer before the Texas Republican delegation forgets the NYPD.