Today is truly a day to pause and remember

It's Tuesday, Sept. 11.

It's been six years since the first and last time I spent a portion of the weekend writing a column for Tuesday, Sept. 11.

For many reasons, I won't recount the personal and devastating losses that transpired after we sipped our early morning coffee while reading comparatively harmless headlines on this date in 2001.

Yet, for many other reasons, today especially is a time to pause for reflection and to remember the heroic sacrifices for the cause of peace -- no matter how you define it.

Looking back to that weekend in 2001, I covered Naperville's Transportation Advisory Board meeting on Saturday as a correspondent for the Daily Herald. I filed a story about a resident on River Road who proposed yard signs, "Keep Kids Alive. Drive 25," to remind residents to drive the 25-mph speed limit.

That national campaign seemed like such a simple way to promote safety that it was soon adapted locally with a slogan: "This is a friendly street. Drive 25!"

Also that week, I was mindful that Lee Marek was headed to New York City with students from Naperville Unit District 203 to showcase some "weird science" on "Late Night With David Letterman."

Growing up in Muncie, Ind., also home of Ball State University, I knew Letterman as a Ball State alum from Indianapolis, who I watched as the wacky weatherman on a local TV station.

In that Tuesday's column, I jested that Marek might have some scientific method to help Letterman achieve his nationally publicized goal to coerce Ball State trustees into naming the university's new football stadium in his honor, something the TV talk show host fancied without coughing up the $6 million gift for naming rights.

Though the university passed on naming the stadium after Letterman, my mother called last Friday to say the funny man visited Muncie for the first time since 1979 for the dedication of the new $21 million David Letterman Communication and Media Building.

If you want to see photos of the state-of-the-art landmark, located across the parkway from Ball State's 48-bell carillon in the 150-foot Shafer Tower (also dedicated in the new millennium), let me know! I took photos on Sept. 2 when I visited my folks to celebrate my mother's 80th birthday.

And, by the way, just as North Central College, Ball State's mascot is the Cardinal. Some things are constant.

Peace

While some things stay the same, on this Tuesday, Sept. 11, Naperville is four days into a month-long Celebration of Peace inspired by Revati Natesan.

Friday evening, during opening ceremonies officiated by Councilman Kenn Miller and Mayor George Pradel, Krystle Yueng, a 14-year-old freshman at Naperville Central High School, provided colorful insights about a poster she created for "Celebrate Peace," a competition sponsored by Lions Clubs International.

Her work was chosen as one of the 23 merit award winners among some 350,000 entries from 75 countries.

While describing her artwork, Krystle was poised to contemplate the ambiguities of the meaning of peace. In common terms, she defined peace as the absence of worry, conflict or sorrow.

"My poster depicts a dove perched upon a globe of flags, carrying joyous children upon its feathery wings," she said. "The children each represent different ethnicities and backgrounds, but despite their differences, they share an aura of ecstasy under the same ebony sky."

Visitors can see Krystle's poster in the Lions Clubs International exhibit beginning today at Benedictine University's Krasa Center, 5700 College Road, Lisle.

Other presentations, art contests, concerts and exhibits are scheduled at venues at North Central College, area high schools and the Naperville Art League through Oct. 5. This ambitious initiative is highlighted online at www.thinkglobalarts.org.

Back to basics

The posters by youth throughout the world illustrate their desire to seek safety, acceptance, understanding and love -- and to live in peace.

None of the works was computer-generated.

And though few of us could manage today without technology, here's hoping we're not too advanced on this day of remembrance to remember the Golden Rule.