Schaumburg A.M. Rotary honors local firefighter for 9/11 efforts

At the November 22nd Schaumburg Village Board meeting Schaumburg Fire Dept. Lt. John Schneidwind was awarded “Service Above Self” recognition from members of the Rotary Club of Schaumburg A.M.

Lt. Schneidwind, who is a 4th generation firefighter, was amongst a contingent of local and metro Chicagoland emergency services personnel who drove to Ground Zero on the afternoon of the 9/11 attack. As the events of that day unfolded, Schneidwind, along with many other first responders from around the nation, heard the call to service from within and chose to answer it. He and fellow colleagues made a conscious decision to leave the safety and comfort of their homes and families, not knowing what the conditions were, to work alongside their FDNY counterparts in the search and rescue/recovery efforts.

During the award presentation club president Jim McKenzie cited Schneidwind and all first responders for their “courage and personal sacrifice on that fateful day.” McKenzie stated that “when others fled, these individuals charged forward and put themselves at personal risk.”

Schaumburg A.M. Rotary, a multigenerational group of men and women, representing a cross section of the local business and professional community, meets weekly on Wednesday mornings from 7:00 – 8:30 a.m. at the Bridges of Poplar Creek Country Club in Hoffman Estates. Benefits of Rotary membership include community service, networking and friendship in addition to promoting business ethics and developing leadership skills. Visit http://www.schaumburgamrotary.org for more information.