Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2992 Commander Michael Lake talks of the heroics of people during the terrorist attack on September 11, 2000. He and other officials spoke during a 9/11 Patriot Day celebration at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines

Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

Firefighters listen as former Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins remembers landing in Washington D.C. moments after the Pentagon had been hit by a passenger jet killing all on board and 125 military personnel on Sept. 11, 2000. She spoke during a 9/11 Patriot Day celebration at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines.

Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

Firefighters and police say The Pledge of Allegiance during a 9/11 Patriot Day celebration at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines

Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

Former Des Plaines Mayor Tony Arredia speaks during a 9/11 Patriot Day celebration at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines.

Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

Members of a combined honor guard made up of members from American Legion Post 36 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2992 fire a salute during a 9/11 Patriot Day celebration at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines.

Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

Corporal Marshal Macri, USMC, Marine Band San Diego plays Taps at the close of a 9/11 Patriot Day celebration at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines.

Bill Zars | Staff Photographer

Elgin Police and fire personnel during the 9/11 ceremony Tuesday at the Elgin City Plaza.

Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

Elgin Police Chief Jeff Swoboda talks to the crowd during the 9/11 ceremony Tuesday at the Elgin City Plaza.

Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

The American Legion Post 57 firing squad collects themselves during the 9/11 ceremony Tuesday at the Elgin City Plaza.

Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

Color Guard Commander, Frank DeLoncker Jr. of Elgin AMVETS Post 202 salutes the colors during the 9/11 ceremony Tuesday at the Elgin City Plaza.

Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

Rich Hamilton of American Legion Post 57 retires the colors after the 9/11 ceremony Tuesday at the Elgin City Plaza.

Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

Members of a fire service class look at New York Fire Department Rescue 5 engine on display during the 9/11 Ceremony Tuesday at the Lake County High Schools Technology Campus in Grayslake. The fire truck was on the scene in New York on September 11, 2001- all eleven firefighters with the truck at the time lost their lives. The truck was restored by Remembrance Rescue Project.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Scott Vaughn of Remembrance Rescue Project talks to a fire service class about the New York Fire Department Rescue 5 engine on display during the 9/11 Ceremony Tuesday at the Lake County High Schools Technology Campus in Grayslake.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Firefighter Jim Cook rings a bell during the Remember 9-1-1 Ceremony by the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District Tuesday at the Schelter Road fire station.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Deputy Chief Tony Ugaste, left, and Battallion Chief Duane Christensen salute during the raising of the flag at the Remember 9-1-1 Ceremony by the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District Tuesday at the Schelter Road fire station.

Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Audience members listen to speakers during the Hoffman Estates annual September 11th Ceremony of Remembrance at the Village Hall Tuesday.

JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

Schaumburg Fire Department Lieutenant John Schneidwind, who assisted at Ground Zero in the wake of 9/11, is greeted by members of the audience following the Hoffman Estates annual September 11th Ceremony of Remembrance at the Village Hall Tuesday.

JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

Schaumburg Fire Department Lieutenant John Schneidwind, who assisted at Ground Zero in the wake of 9/11, speaks during the Hoffman Estates annual September 11th Ceremony of Remembrance at the Village Hall Tuesday.

JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

Joe Dittmar shares his experiences at the annual September 11 remembrance at the Cmdr. Dan Shanower Memorial in Naperville on Tuesday. On September 11, 2001, Dittmar was attending a meeting on the 105th floor of Two World Trade Center with 54 executives from various commercial insurance carriers. He and six of those with him survived that day.

Bev Horne | Staff Photographer

A combined color guard of the Naperville Fire and Police departments, American Legion Post 43 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3873, present colors for the annual September 11 remembrance at the Cmdr. Dan Shanower Memorial in Naperville on Tuesday.

Bev Horne | Staff Photographer

A moment of silence is observed during the annual September 11 remembrance at the Cmdr. Dan Shanower Memorial in Naperville on Tuesday.

Bev Horne | Staff Photographer

Chief Kevin Rynders of the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District speaks to the crowd on the shore of the Fox River Tuesday in Algonquin during a Firefighter Memorial Dedication of a 5,000 pound iron beam from the World Trade Center.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

An Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District ladder truck displays a flag Tuesday in Algonquin during a Firefighter Memorial Dedication. The families of two firefighters killed while on duty in the last 50 years were honored also at the ceremony in Riverfront Park.

John Starks | Staff Photographer