Several events will be held Wednesday in the Aurora area to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.
The Aurora Police Department and Aurora Fire Department will host Aurora’s annual Sept. 11 memorial ceremony beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the Aurora Police Department, 1200 E. Indian Trail.
Aurora public safety officials and city leaders will be joined by community members for the event, city officials said.
The ceremony, which is open to the public, will feature a presentation of colors, a wreath laying by the Aurora Police and Fire Honor Guards and remarks from officials.
A special moment of silence will be held at 7:46 a.m., the time the first plane hit the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001.
The St. Charles Fire Department will hold its annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday outside at the Fire Department Memorial Monument at 2 E. Main St. in St. Charles.
The ceremony will honor first responders who put duty before self to rescue victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and remember those who lost their lives that day, St. Charles officials said.
The ceremony will include remarks from members of the fire department and St. Charles Mayor Lora Vitek, the posting of the St. Charles Fire Department memorial flag, the placing of a memorial wreath and a moment of silence. There also will be a 21-gun salute by local veterans and an invocation.
In Naperville, a remembrance event marking the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Cmdr. Dan Shanower Memorial behind the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.
The city is partnering with Naperville Responds for Veterans for the event at which Mayor Scott A. Wehrli, Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres and Naperville Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis will deliver brief remarks. The Naperville Municipal Band will perform at 5:45 p.m.
Elizabeth McConkie, a high school senior representing Sycamore Post 5768 Veterans of Foreign Wars and Auxiliary and the VFW 19th District Illinois, also will speak. Her essay recently placed third in the VFW’s Voice of Democracy contest and was the District 19 champion.
In the event of rain, the event will be held inside the Naperville City Council chambers. For more information, go to www.naperville.il.us.
