Carrying the cross

Logan Dailey
Posted 3/3/21

A man carrying a cross with American flags and the National League of Families Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flags was seen walking north on Main Street Friday afternoon, Feb. 26.

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Carrying the cross

Posted

TORRINGTON – A man carrying a cross with American flags and the National League of Families Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flags was seen walking north on Main Street Friday afternoon, Feb. 26. The man, Joe Shortino, has been here before and said he loved Torrington, but he will be on his way westward very soon. 

“I’m just here praying over your town, over your businesses,” Shortino said. “[I] love your town.”

Shortino began walking with his cross in 2013. According to Shortino’s Facebook page, on Feb. 23, 2013, the Lord said that he would build a cross, and Joe Shortino would carry it through the United States. Shortino told the Telegram he began his travels most recently in Colorado and had walked through Scottsbluff, Neb., the week prior.

“This makes it eight years that I have been walking the United States,” Shortino said. “I’ve been coast to coast, I’ve been through 19 states. I walk with no money, I’ve never slept on the street, I’ve never gone hungry.”

Shortino said we need God to bless this country and was incredibly thankful for America’s veterans. 

“Without our veterans, we wouldn’t have the freedom we have,” he said.

Shortino said it’s amazing how many people and veterans will approach him and speak with him. Not only will these people speak with him, but they will also pray with him. 

He has two children who are both in the military, one in the U.S. Army and one who just graduated from basic training in the U.S. Navy. He said he began carrying the cross before his children were ever in the military, but asserted it is time we thank veterans and their families.

“I love the Lord, I love our country and I love our vets,” Shortino said.

The next stop for Shortino will be Wheatland, but he said the Lord is calling him to South Dakota, so he will be working his way there from Wheatland. 

Shortino updates his Facebook page with his travels at facebook.com/WCTB7.