Salute to Our Heroes

2025 Speaker – Joe Torrillo 
Retired FDNY Lieutenant 

Inspirational Speaker

On September 11^th, 2001, the world watched in horror as two commercial jets slammed into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers in New York City.

All around the globe, people were glued to their TV sets in horror as rescuers were racing to the scene in desperate attempts to save lives.

Joe Torrillo, a career Lieutenant with the New York City Fire Dept. was one of the first rescuers on that horrific scene.

With a college degree in Construction Technology, Joe knew without a doubt that the Towers were doomed to collapse. Without regard for his own safety, Joe stood up to his vow on becoming a fireman twenty years before that he’d be willing to risk and sacrifice his own life in a desperate effort to save trapped victims during the greatest rescue effort ever witnessed.

Unfortunately, Joe himself was buried alive with massive bodily injuries as he was buried under tons of concrete slabs and twisted steel girders.

In his four year long recuperation from those life threatening injuries, Joe had to decide to either crawl in to a corner in self pity and give up on a productive life or decide to get back on his feet and face the future with the bravery of a Fireman. Coupled with a renewed sense of vigor, commitment and strength, Joe is back stronger than ever.