Never Forget.

by Frank Messina

These pictures were taken blocks from my apartment.

"My buddy, Joe Purtill, at Kelly's Pub
dug for three weeks at ground zHero, 
an ironworker-turned-trench-warfare grunt,
sculptured good looks 
now weathered by thoughts of 
serrated concrete, twisted steel and spinal columns,
He found no survivors, only broken flesh 
and the disjointed terror of a workday gone mad"
 
from American't Get Home by Frank Messina
 
 
Well, my buddy Joe Patel (Purtill) passed away on Monay after being taken down by lung
 cancer. He was 41. Never smoked a cigarette in his life. I have no doubt it was his
 volunteer work amidst the 9/11 dust that caused his demise. Another victim of 9/11. He
 was one of the sweetest, kindest and big-hearted cats you'd ever want to meet. I had great
admiration for him. He leaves behind a wife, Cindy, and his little boy Joey Jr. 

 
In the weeks after 9/11, I would meet Joe at Kelly's Pub where we'd share experiences of 
9/11, sobb into our beers and hug each other like old buds hug. Joe was a stoic, strong
 and strapping lad....a chick magnet and a damn good friend to have in case 
trouble broke out. He was the inspiration of my poem, American't Get Home. 
When I signed a book to him at the release party, the tears swelled in his eyes and
 I got chills up and down my spine. I'll never forget that moment.

 
The things he told me he saw while cutting through the collapsed structure of the WTC, 
searching for victims, are seared into my memory and still make my skin crawl.
 Even the strongest men have their breaking point. Joe was a real man, a humble hero and a damn 
good friend. Please raise a glass in his honor this weekend!!!

 
Frank Messina

Fri, 19 May 2006