Tree Expert Thanks Commack for Hospitality During Sandy Cleanup

One Georgia contractor is reaching out this Thanksgiving to give thanks to Commack residents, who offered him so much while suffering the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy.

Commack resident Ed Monahan opened his mailbox to find an envelope postmarked from Waverly, GA from a name he didn't recognize earlier this week. Inside, was a single-page, handwritten letter from Brittian Flowers, an employee of Asplundh Tree Expert Company, that had been on Long Island until Nov. 13.

Flowers had met Monahan by chance during the cleanup efforts after Hurricane Sandy. He was a hired contractor working with a crew to cut down and clear fallen trees so LIPA could come in to restore power.

"One Sunday, after church, I went to Dunkin' Donuts and bought a bunch of donuts and some coffee, and I gave it to them," Monahan said, providing food for crews working in his neighborhood.

While making the delivery, he casually asked the out-of-state workers what they had planned for lunch only to find, they didn't have any plans.

"I asked them if they had ever had a good New York Italian hero," Monahan said.

When the crew said no, Monahan said he make a quick trip to Meat Farms, purchased an assortment of Italian cold cuts and assembled 12 heroes to drop off for lunch.

"They asked me how they could pay me back, I just told them all I wanted to know how they liked the sandwiches," the Commack resident said.

He got his answer in a heartfelt letter dated Nov. 18, which had a message for the entire Commack community:

...I myself am very thankful for you and the support from all your neighbors. I would like to thank ya'll very much for the helping hands and for all the coffees, meals and snacks. Most of all, for the hospitality.

It can sometimes make disaster relief calls so much more a headache, and stressful, when we're sent to places in which the public is hard to deal with.

However, in your town, it was just the opposite. You guys made our jobs a lot easier. It was a pleasure getting to serve you all.

By the way, the sub sandwiches were a great heat. Thanks for a great meal.

I pray for a fast recovery for your place. It was a good experience for me and my guys. But, we were glad to be home.

Please share my gratitude with your neighbors and share my appreciation.

Hope to see you all on the other side!

Thanks Always,

Brittian Flowers
from the Asplundh Tree Expert Co.
Region 051, Southeast Georgia

Monahan said he hopes to write back to Flowers to let him know his message was shared, provide an update on the community and hopefully, stay in touch.