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Sept. 11 Attacks Inspire 'Patriotic Jesus'

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By ANGELA DELGADO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 15, 2007

Updated: 09/15/2007 03:11 pm

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Joe Seward remembers watching television on Sept. 11, 2001, and seeing the twin towers crumbling.

He was working on a painting of Jesus when the tragedy occurred, and three days later he found himself tweaking the art to show how he was feeling about the event. The outcome is 'Patriotic Jesus,' an oil painting showing Jesus garbed in red, white and blue with the portrait of an eagle on the center of his chest. A blue sky serves as a background.

'I was thinking, maybe I should do a painting and send it to New York to Rudy Giuliani,' said Seward, 84. He could 'use it as a symbol of God Bless America.'

'This painting, in my opinion, if handled right, will be part of America,' he said.

On the day of the terrorist attacks, Seward was interviewed and quoted by the 'Daily Press and Argus' newspaper in Michigan as saying, 'This is worse than Pearl Harbor because I think our country is just about crippled. But in Pearl Harbor it didn't touch the greater 48 states. That was military. This is civilian.'

Since completing his painting on Sept. 28, 2001, Seward has made it his mission to promote patriotism and Christianity to anyone who crosses his path. He began handing out buttons and T-shirts with the image of his 'Patriotic Jesus' on them, and plans to do so until he dies.

So far, Seward has passed out about 3,000 buttons and spent almost as many dollars making them. He usually carries a few in his pocket, and when someone inquires about the button he is wearing, he gives them one of their own.

'If you go to some local businesses, people will be wearing my patriotic pin,' he said. 'It's what I do. It's what I like doing. I just wish I could give away more.'

'You're not just giving the button; you're giving Jesus,' he said. 'This is my way of doing my walk. I do it through my art. I do it through my buttons. I do it through kindness. This is how my life is.'

Seward, who has been painting since 1971, was born in Three Rivers, Quebec, Canada, and served in the Merchant Marines during World War II. He is part of several social groups, including the Silver Sneakers fitness program at the YMCA.

Although he dabbles in painting scenery and still art, he is proudest of his religious portraits. He has painted several of Pope John Paul II, the Virgin Mary and Jesus. His paintings are unique in that his religious subjects have slight smiles on their faces.
Seward said his 'Patriotic Jesus' is the gem in his collection. He has hopes its image will one day be used on a postage stamp.

Reporter Angela Delgado can be reached at (813) 865-1501 or adelgado@tampatrib.com.

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