Fox Valley Sept. 11 observances

Fox Valley communities and organizations are holding several memorials to the victims of Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Elgin

The City of Elgin will hold a program at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 150 Dexter Court. Sponsored by the Elgin AMVETS, the program will feature an address by Dale Dopkins, a retired United Airlines pilot and United States Navy fighter pilot. Mayor Ed Schock is also slated to speak at the 45-minute program. For details, call Robert Whiteleather, AMVETS Post 202, at (847) 608-1481.

South Elgin

The village, in conjunction with the fire protection district, is sponsoring Patriot Days at 9:15 a.m. Thursday at South Elgin High School, 706 E. Main St. William Luchsinger, an Army staff sergeant and firefighter/paramedic for South Elgin, will be giving the keynote address on selfless service. Elgin Area School District U-46 Superintendent Jose Torres is also expected to speak during the hourlong event.

West Dundee

The West Dundee fire department will recognize Sept. 11 with a moment of silence at 8:58 a.m. and 8:59 a.m., and a complete minute of silence at 9 a.m. The moments signify the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., and the crash site in Shanksville, Pa. The observance is part of the International Association of Fire Chiefs' event. West Dundee's fire stations are at 100 Carrington Drive and 555 S. Eighth St.

School events

• Students at Eastview Elementary School in Algonquin will observe Patriot Day during a 20-minute ceremony Thursday morning. Eastview students will recognize local veterans, firefighters and police officers, presenting them with thank you cards and patriotic songs.

• At Leggee Elementary School in Huntley, Jon Grell's fifth-grade class from 2001 is returning from Huntley High School to read the letters they wrote after the attacks with Grell's current fifth-graders.