Sept. 11 observances across the suburbs

Communities across the suburbs will observe the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with remembrance ceremonies.

​9-11 Memorial Healing Fields: Sept. 9-14 at three locations, Carpentersville’s Riverfront Park, West Dundee’s Grafelman Park and Elmhurst Fire Station 2. True Patriots Care present three memorials across the suburbs, each displaying 403 American flags in solemn tribute to the first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice on Sept. 11, 2001. At every site, 343 flags will honor the firefighters and 60 flags will honor the police officers and Port Authority personnel who lost their lives in the attack on the twin towers. These displays serve as a place of reflection, remembrance, and gratitude — ensuring that the courage and sacrifice of these heroes are never forgotten. Visit truepatriotscare.com/2025healingfields/.

Aurora Sept. 11 Memorial Ceremony: 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Central Fire Station, 75 N. Broadway St. The City of Aurora and the fire department will honor the lives lost and acts of heroism during the attacks. The program includes remarks from city leaders, the tolling of the bell, and a moment of silence at 7:46 a.m. Visit facebook.com/cityofaurorail. Aurora Regional Fire Museum’s exhibit, hosting “America United: The Days After 9/11,” runs through Sept. 13 at 35 N. Broadway St., Aurora. Created by the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn, the exhibit explores the national response to 9/11. For details, call (630) 256-4140 or auroraregionalfiremuseum.org.

Evanston 9/11 Ceremony: 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at Firefighters Park, Simpson Street and Maple Avenue in Evanston. The Evanston fire and police departments along with Evanston Firefighters Association Local 742 will honor the brave men and women who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. Visit cityofevanston.org.

St. Charles 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony: 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, outside at the fire department memorial monument, 2 E. Main St. The ceremony includes posting the fire department memorial flag, placing the memorial wreath, and observing a moment of silence. Visit stcharlesil.gov.

Des Plaines Patriot Day tribute: 8 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at Des Plaines City Hall, 1420 Miner St. Des Plaines fire and police departments commemorate the lives of those who died in the 2001 terrorist attacks and the heroes who came to the aid of the victims. Parking is available in the Civic Center garage. Visit desplainesil.gov.

Warrenville Sept. 11 Ceremony: 8 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at Warrenville Fire Department, 3S472 Batavia Road. Featuring a flag raising by combined fire and police honor guard, rifle salute, bell-ringing ceremony, taps, and wreath laying. Visit facebook.com/warrenvillefire11.

Lisle-Woodridge Sept. 11 Remembrance: 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at Kagann Plaza/Town Centre at 5 Plaza Drive in Woodridge. Ceremony featuring national anthem by Elise Floss, a rifle volley by Woodridge Police Department and Woodridge VFW Post 1578, a moment of silence at 8:45 a.m., bell ringing, and “Amazing Grace,” sung by Brian Coleman. In the case of inclement weather, this event will be moved inside the nearby village hall. Visit woodridgeil.gov.

Carpentersville 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony: 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at Carpentersville Fire Station 91, 213 Spring St. To honor the lives lost, 403 U.S. flags will be displayed at Station 91, along Spring Street, and throughout Riverfront Park. The ceremony will include a presentation of colors by the local honor guard, the national anthem, and an invocation from Pastor Phil. Village President John Skillman, and Fire Chief William Anaszewicz will also share reflections, followed by closing remarks to bring the community together in remembrance. Visit facebook.com/villageofcarpentersvillepublicsafety.

Villa Park Patriot Day Ceremony: 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at Fire Station 81, 1440 S. Ardmore Ave. Join the Villa Park Fire Department in paying tribute to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, and observe the 24th anniversary of National Day of Service and Remembrance. Visit invillapark.com.

Schaumburg Patriot Day Ceremony: 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the memorial near Fire Station 51, 950 W. Schaumburg Road. Fire and police personnel, village staff and elected officials will honor the memories of the fallen with a “last alarm” bell ceremony, “Amazing Grace” on bagpipes, and three-volley salute and taps by VFW Post 2202 and Schaumburg Fire and Police Department Honor Guard members. Visit villageofschaumburg.com.

Bartlett 9/11 Memorial Ceremony: 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at Fire Station 1, 234 N. Oak Ave. It includes remarks from members of the fire district and posting of the colors by the Honor Guard. Visit facebook.com/BartlettFire.

Carol Stream Sept. 11 Remembrance Ceremony: 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, next to the flagpole at Station 28, 365 Kuhn Road. The public is invited to attend the flag and bell-ringing ceremony in remembrance of 9/11 attacks. Visit carolstreamfire.org.

Lombard 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony: 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Public Safety Plaza, outside the village hall, 255 E. Wilson Ave. The village also hosts the “We Remember” blood drive on Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 8 a.m. to noon in the donor bus parked on the lower-level entrance near Von Maur at Yorktown Center, and 1:30 to 7 p.m. at First Church of Lombard, 220 S. Main St. To schedule an appointment, visit versiti.org/lL or email Carol Bauer at bauerc@villageoflombard.org. Visit villageoflombard.org/weremember.

Palatine Patriot Day Ceremony: 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Palatine Firefighters Memorial, North Brockway and West Slade. Members of the Palatine fire and police departments will lower the flag, place a wreath at the memorial, and perform a ceremonial ringing of the bell to signify a firefighter’s last call of duty. Visit palatine.il.us.

Oak Brook 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony: 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the village hall, 1200 Oak Brook Road, near the fire department, Oak Brook. This solemn event honors the lives lost, the courage of first responders, and the resilience of our nation. The program will feature a band and choir, along with students from Butler Junior High, and will include moments of reflection and remembrance. Visit facebook.com/VillageofOakBrook.

Wauconda 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony: 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Heroes of Freedom Memorial, East Liberty and South Main streets, Wauconda. Free. Visit wauconda-il.gov.

Pingree Grove 9/11 Memorial Ceremony: 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at Station 3, 1600 Reinking Road, Pingree Grove. Pingree Grove & Countryside Fire District commemorates those who lost their lives and those who were forever changed on Sept. 11. Posting of colors, bell-ringing ceremony, speech and honor guard. Visit pgfpd.com.

Wheaton Sept. 11 Remembrance Ceremony: 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at Memorial Park band shell, 225 N. Karlskoga Ave. Join the City of Wheaton and the Wheaton Park District in paying tribute to those lost in the terrorist attacks and the ensuing military conflicts, and honoring fire and police personnel. It also will honor all those who serve to protect the community, including the Wheaton Police and Fire Departments and all military personnel. Visit wheaton.il.us.

Hoffman Estates Patriot Day ceremony: 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Hoffman Estates Village Hall, 1900 Hassell Road. The village's Veterans Commission is hosting a memorial ceremony with the theme, “What Does it Mean to Never Forget?” It features reflections from Hoffman Estates Firefighter/Paramedic Taylor McIntyre, Hoffman Estates Police retired Lt. Colonel Michael J. Kaye, and Major Michele Heaver, Salvation Army Central Territory. The ceremony will also include musical performances by The Salvation Army Band Ensemble, North & Central Illinois Division. Visit hoffmanestates.org.

Naperville 9/11 Memorial event: 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Cmdr. Dan Shanower Memorial behind the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St. Hosted by the city of Naperville and Naperville Responds for Veterans. This year’s speaker is Laura Murphy who survived the attack of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. She descended 59 floors to escape after American Airlines Flight 11 struck the building. Now a Woodridge resident, she frequently shares with the public her firsthand account. Mayor Scott A. Wehrli, Police Chief Jason Arres and Deputy Fire Chief Philip Giannattasio also will deliver brief remarks. Naperville Municipal Band will begin playing music at 5:45 p.m. In case of rain, it will be held in city council chambers. Visit napervilleresponds.org/events/.

9/11 Time of Remembrance Program: 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 18N377 Galligan Road in Gilberts. Travel through the events of that day through stories, poems, scripture readings, music, and prayer. Also, a spotlight on first responders, thanking them for their service. Join in fellowship over a dessert reception. Open to the community. Visit facebook.com/StPeterLutheranGilberts.

​Streamwood 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony: 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, Streamwood Veterans Memorial, 301 E. Irving Park Road. The Veterans Memorial Commission, with the Streamwood police and fire departments, has a remembrance planned for the innocent victims — civilians, police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel, who perished in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Visit streamwood.org.

Glendale Heights Patriot Day Ceremony: 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11. A silent parade of emergency vehicles starts at approximately 7:15 p.m. at Reskin Elementary School, 1555 Ardmore Ave., and travels a short distance westbound on Fullerton Avenue to the village hall, 300 Civic Center Plaza. A brief remembrance ceremony will be held at the village hall. Residents are encouraged to display American Flags to honor the victims and thank emergency personnel. Additional flags will be placed along the parade route, and 2,977 flags will be displayed at village hall in tribute. Visit glendaleheights.org.

Sugar Grove 9/11 Presentation: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at Sugar Grove Public Library meeting room C, 10 S. Municipal Drive. Mike Fagel will mix stark personal testimony — the dust, fatigue, the equipment — with leadership insight on the massive, hazardous recovery at Ground Zero. Through photos, artifacts, health cases, and operational plans, he shows the human and strategic cost of that day, urging continual readiness and respect for what was lost and learned. Register: sgpl.org.

• Shaw Local News Network contributed to this report.