DuPage takes time to stop and remember Sept. 11

Its silence deafened the ears. Its sight blinded the eyes. Dozens of police cars, fire trucks and other emergency vehicles with flashing lights paraded down Civic Center Plaza in Glendale Heights without making a sound. Even the crowd of more than 100 people standing outside village hall Tuesday held its breath in silence remembering what happened six years ago.

"It's hard to believe that six years have gone by since America changed forever," Glendale Heights Village President Linda Jackson told the crowd. "I hope all of us will continue to observe Sept. 11. May we always remember and never forget."

Glendale Heights residents Tuesday joined thousands of others throughout DuPage County in a variety of ceremonies, moments of silence and special services to commemorate the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. They prayed. They remembered. They honored. Some events were larger than others, but each was special. Here's a look at what some of our communities have done.

Bloomingdale

Police officers and firefighters received a warm welcome Tuesday evening when they arrived outside Bloomingdale Church. A crowd awaited their arrival for a special memorial service, prayer and honorary presentation that followed inside the church. "The big goal is to honor our firefighters and police to say thank you. They got a tough job," Bloomingdale Fire Protection District No. 1 Chaplain Senior Pastor David Riemenschneider said.

Carol Stream

Firefighters lined up at the flag pole Tuesday morning, surrounded by the district's vehicles. A bell tolled, followed by a moment of silence as firefighters, community leaders and residents gathered to remember the victims that lost their lives on Sept. 11. "When we put on a uniform, kiss our families goodbye and report to duty, we do it with pride and commitment," said Battalion Chief Perry Johnson who organized the 30-minute service.

DuPage County

American flags flapped in the stiff breeze late Tuesday afternoon as dozens gathered at the DuPage County Police and Firefighters Memorial in Wheaton.

State Sen. John Millner, himself a longtime police chief, recalled images of first responders rushing into the World Trade Center towers. "They responded not just out of duty but out of commitment," Millner said during the county's annual Patriot Day ceremony. West Chicago Fire Protection District Chief Ron Ackerman spoke of the terrorist attack aftermath when citizens would greet firefighters and thank them or stop by the station to greet them.

"A sudden brilliant light shone on American firefighters," Ackerman said.

"We should pay tribute to the firefighters lost Sept. 11. We should remember what we were before 9/11 and what strides we made."

Lombard

A bouquet of flowers rested against the bronze boots of a statue depicting a little boy playing fireman Tuesday morning in Lombard. A silver bell tolled as about 25 community members joined Lombard firefighters to remember the people who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Fire officials read a poem by Paul Spreadbury entitled, "Two Thousand One, Nine Eleven." The poem, while not historically accurate about the death toll of the attack or the year the battle of Iwo Jima occrred, evoked solemn expressions and a tear or two from the crowd. "Courage like yours does not hide in caves; you can't bury freedom in a grave," reads part of the poem.

The firehouse on St. Charles Road displayed a red, black and gold firefighter memorial flag in memory of the 343 New York firefighters killed on Sept. 11.

The flag joined the Stars and Stripes at half-staff outside the firehouse. A moment of silence ended the tribute.

Wheaton

Rows of small American flags dotted the grass behind Wheaton College's Blanchard Hall in a memorial not sponsored by the college. Senior Dan Falvey said he worked with football and baseball players and other volunteers to plant the 3,000 flags late Monday night. The Wheaton native said he put the plan in motion as part of a Young America's Foundation initiative he learned during a summer trip to Washington, D.C. with the group. The foundation's Web site estimates some 150 college campuses across the country had a similar flag display Tuesday. "It thought it was just a good visual representation," Falvey said. "There's a lot of political things going with the war and everything else tends to get overlooked. (Sept. 11) was probably one of the biggest tragedies in our country's history."