Photo By Cpl. Samuel Ranney | Joe Torrillo, retired New York City firefighter, and September 11 survivor, speaks to...... read more read more
BARSTOW, Calif. - On September 11, 2001, a firefighter, who was working an administrative position due to an injury, was on his way to a press conference for the release of a new action figure he helped design.
Joe Torrillo, a now retired New York City Firefighter, chose the date for the release of the firefighting action figure - - September 11 (9/11), to represent the emergency call number.
What the Brooklyn native didn’t know when he picked this date, was that it was almost his last and a day of terror America will never forget.
“I was on my way to the press conference when I saw the first plane fly right over my head,” Torrillo recalled. “When I saw it fly into the South Tower … I knew it was going to collapse and the people at the top were going to die.”
Torrillo, dressed for a press conference, quickly diverted from the event, borrowed another fireman’s gear and rushed into the building.
“As I was trying to help people escape, the tower collapsed and I was buried alive,” explained Torrillo. “They found me later … I had a fractured skull, broken ribs, and a broken arm.”
Torrillo was placed on a boat which was supposed to take him to safety; however, shortly after, the North Tower fell. The debris from the North tower landed on the boat … burying him alive for a second time.
Rescued once again, Torrillo was finally taken to the hospital but was misidentified because of the name on his borrowed gear.
“I was declared missing for three days while I was at the hospital,” he explained.
Torrillo, 25 at the time, survived and retired with life-long injuries.
The action figure was still released and is dedicated to the 343 firefighters who lost their lives that day.
Today, Torrillo travels the U.S. speaking to fellow Americans and inspiring them.
“It was a tragic day but also a reawakening,” he said. “No one ever thought we would be attacked in America … it made Americans realize the importance of our service members fighting overseas. It’s my mission to honor every man and woman who has served and every first responder out there protecting their communities.”
Torrillo encourages Americans to remember September 11 and to attend the various memorials and ceremonies dedicated to the victims and their families.
“It’s important to remember it for the families of victims,” he added. “Although it was 13 years ago, we will continue to remember it and show the families of victims their grief is shared with all of America.”
For residents of the High Desert, Fort Irwin is having a wreath laying ceremony, explained Ray Smith, fire chief on Fort Irwin.
“There will be a presentation of FDNY Ladder Truck 152, for a memorial to be built for the 343 firefighters and EMS personnel, 60 law enforcement officers, 55 military members, 2,753 innocent civilians, and 6,829 troops who perished on September 11, 2001, and in the years since,” added Smith.
The donated truck responded to ground zero, he explained. The assigned firefighters were all killed.
The free and open to the public ceremony will be held today, on the corner of Langford Lake Road and Barstow Road, Fort Irwin, at 10:28 a.m. (time the World Trade Center North Tower fell). There will be a remembrance service and barbecue following the wreath laying and fire truck presentation.
Next year, the September 11 Fort Irwin Memorial is scheduled to be completed, Smith said. There will be different artifacts from the World Trade Center to include Ladder Truck 152. During the expected opening on September 11, 2015, Joe Torrillo is slated to speak.
| Date Taken: | 09.10.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.10.2014 13:17 |
| Story ID: | 141665 |
| Location: | BARSTOW, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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