By Jonann Brady
Right now, they are injured and unable to work. Like many other people reeling from Tuesday's blast, they're feeling somewhat powerless. Casino's brother, Joey from Merrick, is working at ground zero, and Casino is itching to be there with him. But he's doing what he can.
Casino spray-painted a sheet that proclaims "God Bless America" and draped it across trees in his front yard. Both he and Meslin have hung flags to show unity and are encouraging their neighbors to do the same. Casino wants to let everyone know that rescue workers need clean socks, hard harts, respirator filters and eye wash.
"I'm a tough guy and I cried for two days," said Casino.
"I'm still crying," said Meslin.
They are angry, too.
"It's time to take off the blinders and stop being nice," said Meslin. He wants America to take action and take it soon, but he isn't sure where we should begin. "It's like a web," said Meslin. "It's like fighting a ghost."
Both men say that they won't be taking out their anger on Arab-Americans or other Middle Easterners living as their neighbors.
Initially, Casino said he felt a surge anger toward the owner of a nearby stationery store. "But then I said, 'how can I be angry at this guy?' He had nothing to do with it." He added, "I'm Italian. I'm an immigrant myself."
"I'm an American and I'm a union man," said Meslin. "Wherever you're from, Americans stand arm in arm and do the right thing."
