Remembering Sept. 11
Carol Stream
• The Carol Stream Fire Protection District will host a short ceremony beginning at 8:45 a.m. today outside its headquarters at 365 N. Kuhn Road. Fire officials will be sounding a bell at the time each of the buildings was hit. The public is invited.
Glendale Heights
• Glendale Heights will remember Sept. 11 at 7:15 p.m. today on the front steps of village hall at 300 Civic Center Plaza. A silent parade of police cars, firetrucks and other emergency response vehicles will travel from Glenside Fire Protection District on Fullerton Avenue east toward village hall. A candlelight vigil follows on the front steps of village hall.
Lombard
• The village of Lombard will hold a community blood drive from 12:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in the community room of village hall, 255 E. Wilson Ave. The drive was organized to commemorate the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. A photo ID is required to donate blood, and appointments are requested. For details, call Carol Bauer at (630) 620-5712.
• The village of Lombard will hold bell-ringing ceremonies to remember the lives of those killed in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Beginning at 8:45 a.m. today, the Lombard Fire Department will ring bells at both Fire Station One, 50 E. St. Charles Road, and Fire Station Two, 2020 S. Highland Avenue. The ceremony will include a moment of silence and reflections from members of the fire department.
Naperville
• A childhood friend of Naperville native and Navy Cmdr. Dan Shanower, who was killed during the attack on the Pentagon, will speak about how the nation has mobilized resources to counter terrorism following the attacks at 6 p.m. today. FBI Special Agent Pablo Araya grew up with Shanower in Naperville and the two eventually served together aboard the aircraft carrier Midway. Araya volunteered for overseas service following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, deploying to India and Afghanistan. Araya will be the keynote speaker at the city's annual remembrance at the memorial behind city hall at 400 S. Eagle St. The city's memorial service also will feature a color guard made up of members of the city's fire and police departments, as well as members of the local American Legion and VFW posts. The Firefighters Highland Guard of Naperville also will attend.
• A fundraiser for the Gear Up Foundation, a tribute to first responders, runs from 7 to 9:30 p.m. today at Quigley's Irish Pub, 43 E. Jefferson Ave., Naperville. Joe Cantafio will sing and make a brief presentation on Gear Up. World Trade Center survivor Joe Dittmar also will be present. Sponsored by Rotary Club of Naperville/Downtown International Services Committee. Info: rotaryclubsofnaperville.com.
Wheaton
• Organist Mark Edward Laubach will present a recital at 8 p.m. today at Edman Chapel of Wheaton College, North Washington and East Franklin, Wheaton. The concert will feature selections honoring the memory of Sept. 11 and is co-sponsored by the Fox Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Tickets cost $6 per person, $4 for seniors 60 and older and students. For details, call (630) 752-5099.
• DuPage County will remember Sept. 11 with a ceremony at 4:30 p.m. today at the Police and Firefighters Memorial. The event will feature state Sen. John Millner, DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom and area emergency response leaders. The memorial is just east of the county administrative building at 421 County Farm Road, Wheaton. Parking is available at the site.