JOPLIN, Mo. — The city manager of Joplin has just had his first book published, and in it he praises all the volunteers who helped save lives and rebuild the community
Mark Rohr’s book is entitled: “Joplin: The Miracle of the Human Spirit.”
Rohr was among the first responders, pulling victims and survivors from the rubble that evening. Without knowing if his own wife and five kids were safe, Rohr worked to find and save others.
An excerpt from his book reads:
The broken, crushed and muddy bodies of men and women, boys and girls, pulled from the debris, linger in the memories of those who found them.
Rohr says he’s always wanted to write a book, even started one before. Writing about Joplin was a catharsis for him. He says, like many other people, he didn’t have the opportunity to deal with his emotions because there was so much to do, but putting it down on paper, helped him work through it.
Despite the despair of those lost, Rohr was uplifted by the human spirit.
“What is sometimes believed to be a dysfunctional world, this is something that really came together and human beings really banded together and did something unique and special,” Rohr said.
He hopes to raise enough money to build a monument to volunteers.
