Page 6 - The Military Reunion Network Sept Oct 2017 Issue

Military Reunion Network | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 | #militaryreunionsmatter

Continued from page 4

lives so someone else might live.” “I asked God to the hospital in New Jersey. “What do you mean? He
take care of my family. Nothing for them would ever is sitting right here having coffee?”
be the same. Their lives are ruined.”
For close to ten years, he was silent about what he
Rescue arrived and within 25 minutes, he was was feeling regarding his experience on September
strapped to a spine board on a boat dock side 11th. “People talk about survivor guilt. I had survivors
between Manhattan and New Jersey. A medical anger. I was very angry I survived because 343
team tending to him, told him he would probably fire fighters marched up to heaven that day. I did
die if they did not get him to a hospital quickly. It not understand why I was not allowed to go with
was then, the North Tower came down sending them, why I was left behind. Why was I not good
glass, rubble and dust toward them. His rescuers enough.” The answer came as he started sharing his
jumped into the river leaving Joe. He freed himself story. “After a speaking engagement, people would
from the spine board and jumped head first into come up to me and tell me God sparred my life for
a doorway, landing ten feet down, covered once a reason. I firmly believe that now. I think my job is
again in debris. to tell the story of those 343 that died that day. To
honor them so they are not forgotten.”
He woke up in the hospital unaware of where he
was. Due to the borrowed fire fighter gear, his wife When you listen to Joe Torrillo speak, two things
and family did not know his location either. He was are abundantly clear. He is extremely humble and
missing for three days. During his presentation, Joe he loves this country. He fit right in with the patriotic
shared the conversation with Lt McNamara’s wife veterans that are a part of our Military Reunion
when she got the call her husband was alive but in Network community. 

For more information visit militaryreunionnetwork.com
Select Speakers/Color Guard/Entertainment from the menu in the upper right

6