Remembering Sept. 11, 2001: Services and events in the Fox Valley

Most of us have a clear memory of Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001 — where we were; how we reacted; and how the tears flowed as the day’s events unfolded.

Would we ever be safe again?

During the last 10 years, many safeguards have been put in place and several attempts at terrorism have been squelched.

Although we’ll never forget the horrific day, the 10th anniversary is a time for tribute and special remembrance. Numerous ceremonies are being conducted in the Fox Valley.

Algonquin

St. Margaret Mary Knights of Columbus Council 11091 invite the community to attend a special memorial service at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church for the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Seven local police and fire departments have been invited to be part of the service. St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church is on Route 62 at the Fox River in Algonquin.

Carpentersville

Ÿ Carpentersville Fire Department will hold the dedication of the Carpentersville Fire Department Firefighter/9-11 Memorial at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, at 213 Spring Street, Carpentersville. An open house will follow. The fire department is looking for past department members. They can call the fire chief at (847) 344-7300 or email to jaschuldt@vil.carpentersville.il.us to arrange their attendance at the dedication of the Carpentersville Fire Department Firefighter/9-11 Memorial.

Ÿ A Healing Field 9/11 Memorial will be held today, Sept. 7, through Sept. 11, in Carpenter Park. This special event will honor the nearly 3,000 men and women who died on Sept. 11, 2001. American Flags, one for each, spanning across Carpenter Park. The display is open to the public and free. You can support this event through donations and flag sales for the Patriot Committee Charities. Purchase a flag and your flag will be flown for the five day event. Then take it home and continue flying it. The flag can honor anyone. For more information, visit ealingfield.org/Carpentersville.

Crystal Lake

The Mc Henry County College Student Life Office is hosting a remembrance at the Peace Pole on the cafeteria patio at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7. A short ceremony will include a moment of silence, a brief keynote speech, followed by refreshments. The event is free and open to the public. In addition, nearly 3,000 mini American flags will be displayed in the adjacent courtyard to represent the number of deaths from the Sept. 11 attacks.

East Dundee

Immanuel Lutheran Church, 310 E. Main St., East Dundee will hold a Prayer Service “The Ten Year Remembrance of 9/11/01: What Do You Remember When ...” at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. Immanuel has invited first responders from the community to join in a time of prayer and praise.

Elburn

Ÿ On Sunday, Sept. 11, Community Congregational Church of Elburn will host a Service of Remembrance for all who lost their lives 10 years ago in the attacks. Local clergy participating include the Rev. Gary Augustine of Elburn Hill Church, the Rev. David Kletzing of Hope Anglican Church, and the Rev. Michelle Prentice-Leslie of Community Congregational Church. The service, which is open to all, will be held at 5 p.m. Visit ccc-elburn.org.

Elgin

Ÿ At 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, the Elgin Choral Union, along with the city of Elgin and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, present A Concert of Remembrance — a collaborative performance to commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

This moving concert features John Adams’ Transmigration of Souls, written shortly after the attacks to exemplify the emotions and complexities of the tragedy; and Johannes Brahms’ Requiem, often referred to as the Human Requiem, written for the living as they remember those who have passed on.

The concert also will feature performances by Elgin Choral Union, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Heartland Voices, Elgin Children’s Chorus, and Elgin OPERA.

Tickets are on available by calling the Hemmens’ box office at (847) 931-5900 or visit Hemmens.org.

Preceding the concert at 1:30 p.m., join the City of Elgin for a Sept. 11 Memorial Ceremony at Civic Plaza, 150 Dexter Court, behind city hall, featuring a presentation of the colors, performance of The Star Spangled Banner, “God Bless America” and “Amazing Grace,” welcoming remarks by City of Elgin Mayor David Kaptain, sounding of the bells, rifle salute, Taps and more.

For more information about the ceremony, call (847) 931-5677.

Ÿ Women of Grace and Dignity will hold its Sept. 11 Commemorative Luncheon with the theme, “I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!’,” Psalm 91:2.

Women of Grace and Dignity, a local women’s organization, is preparing to honor policewomen, fire women, paramedics, chaplains, clergy, EMTs, doctors, nurses, and veterans.

The luncheon event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at The Centre of Elgin Centre Heritage Ballroom, 100 Symphony Way, Elgin.

Tickets are $22 and can be purchased at the door or in advance by contacting Liz Hopp at (847) 888-2648 or wogadtreas@yahoo.com.

Dr. Clare Ollayos will emcee the event which will feature special awards celebrating women from the local community. The luncheon features nationally known speaker and author Peggy Joyce Ruth. Her book, “Psalm 91: Real Life Stories of God’s Shield of Protection,” is often referred to as a manual for prayer. Complete information is available at womenofgraceanddignity.com.

Ÿ Elgin Community College will have a ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, near the current Student Resource Center entrance on the east side of campus. The ceremony will rededicate the new dedication of the Peace Pole that stood on land that is now between the ATC and new library. ECC Police Officer Laurie Hermesdorf will give the keynote address about the importance of first responders

Geneva

Ÿ Geneva’s FoxFire Restaurant will host its second annual chili cook-off at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, to raise money for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Paired with the end of the Festival of the Vine, the cook-off is $5 and registration is ongoing. FoxFire is at 17 W. State St., Geneva, (630) 232-1369.

Ÿ Geneva High School will hold a ceremony from 7 to 7:25 a.m. Friday, Sept. 9, to pay tribute to the people who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

Hampshire

The Hampshire Fire Protection District will host “A Salute to Patriotism” Sept. 11. Join the group at the fire station on Washington Avenue for an evening of celebration, remembrance and a salute to patriotism. A silent parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. The route will be west to Prairieview Parkway; south on Prairieview across Route 72 to Schmidt Drive; continue northeast to Jack Dylan Drive; continue north to Lake Lane; continue west to White Oak Street; continue north to Panama Avenue; continue west to State Street; continue north to Washington Avenue and continue east to the fire station at 202 Washington Ave. Once the parade passes, come to the fire station for the program at 7:30 p.m. Parking after 6:45 is available at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and the parking lot next to the post office. Street closures will be on Washington from Maple to the west to Ask on the east; Elm will be closed at Washington. The festivities begin at 7:30 p.m. at the fire Station, including a posting of colors by the American Legion, Memorial Services led by Gavin Brandt department Chaplain and the Hampshire High School Chamber Orchestra will play “adagio for Strings,” which was played 10 years ago at the World Trade Center’s Memorial Service. Also playing will be the Dundee Scottish Pipe band. The service will close with the VFW and American Legion’s 21 Gun Salute, Echo Taps played by Hampshire High School Trumpeters and the American Legion will retire the colors. All attendees are asked to join the open house with coffee, punch and cookies.

Huntley

Huntley Fire Protection District, Station 1, 11808 Coral St.; Station 2, 10590 Reed Road; Station 3. 12400 Regency Parkway; Station 4, 4151 W. Algonquin Road. Station 4 will hold a Patriot Day Commemoration Ceremony, Dedication. Welcome and Introduction will be at 8:30 a.m., with Presentation of colors, HFPD Honor guard, Pledge of Allegiance, Start Spangled Banner - Commission Steve Berry. A History of Station 4 will be at 8:40 a.m. The purpose and function of new station will be presented by Deputy Chief Ken Caudle and Ringing of Bell with HFPD Honor Guard will be at 8:59 a.m. with Chief James Saletta. One Minute of Complete Silence will be at 9 a.m.; Amazing Grade performed by Amy Lutzow-Laukota at 9:01 a.m. and Blessing of Station 4 and Engine 944 will be conducted by the Rev. Ron Woodruff and Pastor Kangse Lee at 9:10 a.m. from 9:10 to 10 a.m. light refreshments will be served and station tours will be available. A 9-11 Service at Christ United Methodist Church will be held at 10 a.m. The ceremonies are in memory of 341- FDNY Firefighters, 2- FDNY Paramedics, 23- NYPD Officers, 37- Port Authority Police, 8- EMT’s and Paramedics from private EMS units, 246- All four airplane passengers, 2,605- Employees/visitors in towers and 125- Employees at Pentagon.

St. Charles

Ÿ Baker Memorial United Methodist Church in St. Charles will mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with a special worship service at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. The service will be outdoors, weather permitting, or in the church’s Sanctuary if the weather is poor. The Service of Remembrance and Hope will include prayerful, contemplative music based on the tradition of Taizé in France, a place of pilgrimage and reflection that draws people from around the world. The focus of the message will be from the apostle Paul: “Neither things present, nor things to come … will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Those attending the service will be able to remember their own experiences of Sept. 11. Participants will record their memories — their experiences of learning about the tragedy, their emotional responses as events unfolded and how those emotions were resolved — on index cards. These written memories will be placed in a basket at the foot of the cross at the conclusion of the service.

“This service will provide us the opportunity to remember the events of that day, and the sorrow and grief that swept across our nation,” said the Rev. Ronni S. Verboom. “We live in a broken world, broken in such a way that violence erupts again and again in nation after nation.” This service, she said, offers a chance to “observe this anniversary in a way that offers hope and to remember that God brings light into all darkness.”

Baker Memorial Church is in downtown St. Charles, at Fourth Avenue and East Main Street. For more information. call the church at (630) 584-6680.

Ÿ Hosanna! Lutheran Church will have a special worship, “Never Forget … Hope,” a service of remembrance for 9/11, at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. All in the community are invited to attend. For information, contact the church office at (630) 584-6434 or email at Welcome@HosannaChurch.com. Hosanna! is at 36W925 Red Gate Road, St. Charles.

Sugar Grove

The Sugar Grove American Legion will hold “Remembrance of 9/11” from 8:45 to 9:15 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. There will be a moment of silence along with a presentation and raising of a flag that flew over ground zero in 2001 at Sugar Grove Veteran’s Park, on Main Street alongside the railroad tracks.

At 2 p.m. Sunday, at the Sugar Grove American Legion Mike Fagel, who was a 9/11 responder for the Department of Justice in 2001 will give a presentation on “9/11/01 — 9/11/11: How Far We’ve Come in the Last 10 Years.” Fagel teaches Homeland Security at Northwestern University and Northern Illinois University. Fagel works supporting the Department of Homeland Security at Argonne National Laboratory he was deployed to the Mideast in 2005 and has spent more than 25 years in the fire service.

Union

On Sunday, Sept. 11, the McHenry County Historical Society Museum at 6422 Main St., Union will open free to the public from 1 to 4 p.m. The historical society hopes that visitors will take a few moments while visiting to sit and read the local recollections from Sept. 11, 2001 that area residents wrote.

For information on the society, its museum, membership, mission, programs and volunteer opportunities, call (815) 923-2267 or check the website at mchsonline.org.