Sept. 11 remembrance at Cmdr. Dan Shanower Memorial
Annual Event Pays Tribute to Cmdr. Shanower and Victims of the Sept. 11 Attacks
On the tenth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Naperville Exchange Club is sponsoring the annual Sept. 11 remembrance at the Cmdr. Dan Shanower Memorial. As the sponsoring organization for the Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony, the Exchange Club of Naperville is proud to honor the brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice a decade ago on that fateful day.
This year's event will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11 at the Cmdr. Shanower Memorial, located behind the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St., along the Riverwalk. In case of rain, the event will take place inside the Naperville Municipal Center. Music before the ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m.
U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Richard Porterfield will be the keynote speaker at this year's event. Rear Admiral Porterfield retired from active duty on June 1, 2005, and was assigned to the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.
Cmdr. Dan Shanower of Naperville worked for the admiral as the senior officer in the Chief of Naval Operations Intelligence Plot (CNO-IP). The admiral selected Cmdr. Shanower to lead CNO-IP, the Navy's elite intelligence organization serving senior Navy civilian and military officials, due to the admiral's personal knowledge of Cmdr. Shanower's extraordinary skills as a leader and intelligence professional.
“It is vitally important that as a community, we come together each year to remember the horrific attacks that occurred on American soil on September 11, 2001,” Mayor A. George Pradel said. “On that day, Americans were unified in their love for one another and for their country. By paying our respects, we honor the men, women and children who perished in the attack, as well as the heroic first responders who gave their lives so that others could live. Quoting from Commander Dan Shanower – ‘Freedom Isn't Free'.”
From September 8-10, two World War II search lights will also be placed behind the Municipal Center with their beams of light meant to represent the World Trade Center's Twin Towers that fell during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The lights will be on display each of the three days from dusk until 11 p.m.
As part of the September 11 remembrance, the Exchange Club will host a flag raising ceremony along Jackson Avenue.
Residents and interested parties should note that Jackson Avenue from Eagle Street to Webster Street will be a no-parking, tow-zone from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11 to allow for this portion of the remembrance.
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