Northwest suburban ceremonies recall loss of 9/11
Schaumburg Fire Lt. John Schneidwind recalled his days at ground zero after joining a group of Chicago-area firefighters who left for New York City in the predawn hours of Sept. 12.
"I've been asked why we do this each year," Schneidwind said, speaking Thursday in what for him has become an annual event at the Sept. 11 memorial event in Hoffman Estates.
"Isn't it like opening an old wound? The truth is, we have to remember."
Hoffman Estates was one of several Sept. 11 commemorations in the Northwest suburbs on Thursday, 13 years after the fateful day.
Though he doesn't suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or nightmares, Schneidwind said the emotional toll of those days - and the question of whether more could have been done - are always with him.
"Our world has changed, firefighting has changed and I have changed," Schneidwind said.
Chaplain Allen Eaton commented on the growth and change the nation and those who experienced the horrors of that day are still undergoing.
"Each year as I sit and listen, it's obvious how this day has changed us ... and is changing us," Eaton said, reflecting on Schneidwind's comments. "Each year, your talk is different."
Eaton said he believes the ultimate lesson of Sept. 11 is for people to be "overcomers" - not expecting others to do the work they must do themselves.
"We can't control what the world throws at us," Eaton said. "But we can control how we react to it. We can control how we let it affect us. We can control what we build from it."
Hoffman Estates Police Chief Mike Hish spent a lot of time on emergency preparedness training in the aftermath of Sept. 11. He said the best acknowledgment families can make of the tragedy - both for themselves and first-responders - is to build their own preparedness for emergencies or natural disasters.
Meanwhile, in Palatine, those participating in the ceremony included Mary Smith of Milwaukee, a flight attendant who lost co-workers on Sept. 11, 2001, Denise Aniol of Palatine, Mary Seroczynski of Palatine and Marilyn Abbink of Rolling Meadows, whose late husband was a firefighter for Rolling Meadows.
The ceremony was held at the Palatine Firefighters Memorial, and included police and fire department honor guards, a wreath and ringing the bell to signify a firefighter's last call of duty.
Des Plaines held two events, a ceremony at city hall and a VFW Post 2992 event at Oakton Place retirement community featuring a variety of speakers.
Hanover Park held a remembrance at the veterans memorial at village hall.
Thursday evening, author Michael Hingson, blind since birth, shared the story of how his guide dog, Roselle, led him to safety from the 78th floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower in an event at The Garlands Performing Arts Center in Barrington.