Suburbs to pay tribute to Sept. 11 victims, heroes

The suburbs will mark the 14th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., with solemn ceremonies and tributes starting early Friday morning and continuing into the evening.

Most ceremonies will be led by first responders, community leaders and military representatives, but the public is invited to attend and take part.

Here's a rundown on where and when a ceremony is taking place near you:

Addison: Students from criminal justice and fire science programs at Technology Center of DuPage will take part in 30-minute ceremonies beginning at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the flagpole in front of the technology center, 301 S. Swift Road. The ceremonies also will honor two technology center alumni killed while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan: culinary student Sean Cardelli of Lisle (2004) and fire science student Samuel Watts of Wheaton (2010). Info: tcdupage.org.

Carpentersville: The fire department will host a flag ceremony honoring the Sept. 11 victims and the first responders at 9 a.m. at Fire Station No. 91, at 213 Spring St., in front of the 9/11 memorial. Students from Parkview Elementary School and Dundee-Crown High School will participate, as will the police department's honor guard.

Des Plaines: The city will hold its annual Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony at 8 a.m. at the city's Sept. 11 memorial, located in the plaza between city hall and the police station at 1420 Miner St. Speakers at the ceremony will include Mayor Matt Bogusz, Police Chief Bill Kushner and Fire Chief Alan Wax. The memorial includes a piece of steel from the World Trade Center, an engraved stone and a plaque.

• Also in Des Plaines, Maine West High School will honor veterans at 6:15 p.m. before the Red, White and Blue football game. All veterans are welcome, and are asked to enter the north stadium gate to line up by service branch. Each veteran will be given a ticket for a free hot dog and drink.

Elgin: The city and the American Legion will host a Sept. 11 ceremony at 9 a.m. at Civic Center Plaza (back entrance of city hall across from the Hemmens Cultural Center), 120 E. Highland Ave.

• Also in Elgin, Mission and Spiritual Care at Advocate Sherman Hospital host a Sept. 11 prayer of remembrance ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in the Hoffer Healing Courtyard at the hospital, 1425 N. Randall Road.

Glendale Heights: Patriot Day will be observed at 7:15 p.m. on the stairs of the village hall, 300 E. Fullerton Ave. Also, there will be a silent parade of police cars and fire trucks, military honor guard, wreath laying, raising of the flags, rifle salute and a short video presentation. Info: (630) 909-5303 or glendaleheightsparksrecreationfacilities.com.

Hanover Park: The village will remember and honor the men and women that lost their lives in the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, and the police and firefighters who have lost their lives since, during a ceremony beginning at 9 a.m. at the veterans memorial at village hall, 2121 Lake St.

Hoffman Estates: The village will hold a Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony at 5 p.m. at village hall, 1900 Hassell Road. Schaumburg Fire Department Lt. John Schneidwind, a 9/11 first responder, will be the featured speaker. Schneidwind will share his firsthand experience of assisting at ground zero at the World Trade Center in New York after the terrorist attacks.

Huntley: The 9/11 American Flag Memorial Display continues outside the Fountain View Pavilion, 12880 Del Webb Blvd. in Sun City. There are 2,976 flags placed in memory of each victim who died on Sept. 11, 2001. There will be a program at 6 p.m. featuring Prairie Voices and a candlelight vigil. At sunset the Huntley American Legion will play taps. Visit sccah.com.

Itasca: The fire district and the police department will host a small remembrance ceremony between 7:46 and 8:30 a.m., the times the World Trade Center towers were hit. At a gathering outside the fire station at 520 W. Irving Park Road, a firefighter will read a brief presentation explaining the importance of the day.

Lincolnshire: A Stevenson High School group called Students Helping Soldiers will hold its annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony Friday at the school. The event will begin at 10 a.m. at the Garden of Peace, Hope and Remembrance, a space near parking lot B. Students, employees and community members are invited to attend.

Lisle: The Lisle/Woodridge Fire Protection District hosts a remembrance ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at Fire Station 51, 1005 School St., Lisle, in conjunction with the villages and police departments of Lisle and Woodridge and Woodridge VFW Post 1578. The ceremony will include a special presentation to the community from the fire protection district.

Lombard: A brief ceremony and moment of silence begins at 8:45 a.m. at the flagpole at Fire Station 1, 50 E. St. Charles Road. The firehouse hosts an open house for the remainder of the day. Info: villageoflombard.org.

Naperville: A remembrance ceremony begins at 6 p.m. at the Cmdr. Dan Shanower/Sept. 11 Memorial along the Riverwalk, behind the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St. Before the ceremony, the bells of the Millennium Carillon will toll from 5:45 to 6 p.m. Info: naperville.il.us

Oak Brook: A memorial ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the village hall, 1200 Oak Brook Road. Includes color guard and speakers. Info: oak-brook.org.

Palatine: The village will honor those who lost their lives in a ceremony at 9 a.m. at the Palatine Firefighters Memorial, which sits the corner of North Brockway and West Slade streets in the village's downtown. Palatine Fire Department members and retirees will march to the memorial from the fire station at 39 E. Colfax St. Joining them will be honor guards from the Palatine fire and the police departments.

Wauconda: The Heroes of Freedom Memorial will be unveiled in a ceremony starting at 9 a.m. Featuring a beam from one of the fallen World Trade Center buildings and other elements, the memorial is on Main Street south of Route 176, just north of the police station. Scheduled speakers include survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The memorial honors the people killed in those attacks and the military personnel who have since served the nation.

Wheaton: Ceremony begins at 8:45 a.m. in the front of the fire department's headquarters, 1 Fapp Circle. The fire department also is co-sponsoring a Day of Remembrance blood drive with the police department from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the police station, 900 W. Liberty Drive.