Friday, September 16, 2011
Patch troubadour Kevin Trudo looks back on the 10 years since the 9/11 attacks, and urges us to remember.
The 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks dominated Patch’s coverage last week. In ceremonies across our region, people paid tribute to the nearly 3,000 who lost their lives on that day, and took time to reflect and remember. Watching and reading that coverage had an impact on Patch troubadour Kevin Trudo. We’re going to let his song, called “Together,” speak for itself this week. Lyrics are reprinted below. For more on Kevin Trudo, check out his Facebook page. Together We all remember where we were Did our mental inventory Who do we know in New York or out in DC? Our friends couldn't answer the phone All we got, we got from TV But the words and the pictures and thoughts just wouldn't agree For days there was ash in our lives Just a …
Monday, September 12, 2011
On Sunday, Linda Pasetti-Olson of Montgomery and Jennifer Wheeler of Naperville joined hundreds of others as they escorted firefighters to the FDNY memorial in New York City.
Linda Pasetti-Olson said she is disappointed she did not get to ride into Ground Zero on Sunday. Plans for the massive ride of honor changed, she said—initially, she, Jennifer Wheeler of Naperville, and hundreds of their fellow Motor Maids were to accompany a group of firefighters to the 10th anniversary memorial service, at the site of the World Trade Center. The two locals had made the trip through wind and rain over the past week to be part of that history in the making. And when word got around that their destination would now be the New York Fire Department's memorial at House 10-10, not far from Ground Zero, people were let down. But not for long. On Sunday at noon, the procession of Motor Maids and members of the International …
Sunday, September 11, 2011
The brief, yet powerful ceremony on the Mill Street Bridge Sunday morning paid tribute to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.
Dozens of people lined the Mill Street Bridge on Sunday morning to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and remember those who lost their lives that day. The ceremony was brief, but powerful. After an introduction by Village President Marilyn Michelini, Norb Weber, a retired Aurora firefighter who now sits on the board of trustees for the Montgomery and Countryside Fire Department, offered a prayer. “Help us to remember what it means to be Americans, a people endowed with blessings,” Weber said. “Help us to cherish the freedoms we enjoy and inspire us to stand, united as one nation in the midst of any adversity.” Fire Chief Tom Meyers and Police Chief Daniel Meyers each offered their own tributes to those who died in the …
Saturday, September 10, 2011
The city's 9/11 ceremony took place Friday morning, and included tributes to the Aurorans who have died in the war on terror, and a first-hand account of the World Trade Center attack from a man who survived it.
Aurora marked the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on Friday with tears, salutes, and a survivor’s gripping story. Hundreds gathered under a clear blue sky Friday morning at the Central Fire Station on Broadway for the city’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony. Honor was paid to all of the victims, first responders, police officers and firefighters who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, and a special tribute paid to the four Aurora Marines killed in the subsequent war in Iraq: Jesse De La Torre, Edwardo Lopez, Hector Ramos and Timothy Ryan. Friday’s ceremony included remarks from Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner, Police Chief Greg Thomas and Fire Chief Hal Carlson, who said the 9/11 attacks are like the day John F. Kennedy was shot—those who were …
Linda Pasetti-Olson of Montgomery and Jennifer Wheeler of Naperville have traveled to New York to be part of the 9/11 anniversary ceremony. Here's how they spent their second day in town.
If you've been following Patch this week, you know the story of Linda Pasetti-Olson and Jennifer Wheeler. The two local motorcycle enthusiasts, both part of the nationwide Motor Maids organization, will be part of Sunday's 9/11 anniversary commemoration in New York, and this week, they rode their bikes more than 1,000 miles to get to their destination. After being separated in Scranton, NY, the pair reunited on Thursday, and spent Friday meeting Motor Maids from around the country, touring a fire station across the street from Ground Zero, and attending a fire fighters rally. Today (Saturday), Orange County Choppers will host a firefighter appreciation day for the riders, and for members of the International Association of Fire Fighters. …
Friday, September 9, 2011
Linda Pasetti-Olson of Montgomery and Jennifer Wheeler of Naperville have made their way to New York, despite the best efforts of Tropical Storm Lee. Now they must prepare for their role in Sunday's 9/11 commemorative ceremony at Ground Zero.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Andre Salles
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Friday, September 9, 2011
It was a long and difficult ride, but Linda Pasetti-Olson and Jennifer Wheeler have arrived in New York. The two motorcycle enthusiasts—Pasetti-Olson is from Montgomery, Wheeler from Naperville—left Illinois on Saturday morning, hoping to make the thousand-mile trip in three days. They planned a scenic route that would take them around Lake Erie, and through the Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania. The two traveled east to join fellow members of the Motor Maids organization, who are taking part in the 9/11 memorial ceremony at Ground Zero on Sunday. The Motor Maids will escort members of the International Association of Fire Fighters to the ceremony. They had hoped to be in New York by Monday, or Tuesday at the latest. But they didn’t …
Oswego woman personifies thinking globally, acting locally.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- Steven Jack
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Friday, September 9, 2011
Patriotism. It’s a word that all at once can mean so much and in the next moment have its meaning stripped away by cynical campaigners looking for the latest political score. For Pat Gavros, patriotism has become so much more than any of that. It’s become her way of life—who she is. The 60-something Oswego resident and mother of one son began 2011 on an unusual mission—to lead a more patriotic life. Gavros, who is polite to a fault, set out to accomplish one act of patriotism each week. Her quest has led her to Santa Monica, CA, where she took part in the weekly Arlington West project, in which volunteers place crosses on the beach to commemorate the U.S. military personnel lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. That trip inspired Gavros to …
The 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks will be commemorated with a number of special events this weekend.
Communities across the southwest suburbs are planning a number of special events this weekend to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. Here's a quick guide to local ceremonies and vigils: 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony The City of Aurora will mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with a remembrance ceremony to honor families who lost loved ones and acknowledge the bravery of emergency responders during the tragedy. The event will take place at 10 a.m. at the Central Fire Station, 75 N. Broadway, in downtown Aurora. The Aurora Regional Fire Museum will host an open house following the ceremony to showcase a special 9/11 exhibit, “Ground Level: September 11-14.” …
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Thousands expected in downtown Oswego for 10th anniversary event.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- Steven Jack
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Thursday, September 8, 2011
Sunday’s 9/11 Empty Shoe Memorial in Oswego looks to be a massive event with more than 100 volunteers and thousands of residents from all over the Fox Valley heading downtown to pay their respects on 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York City, Washington D.C. and Flight 93 in rural Pennsylvania. Here is the final schedule of events: 8 a.m. Opening of the memorial at Route 71 and Washington Street. 8:46 a.m. Church of the Good Shepherd bell-ringing and minute of silence 8:47 a.m. Oswego Fire Protection District Silent Salute down Washington Street from Route 71 to Hudson Crossing Park 9 a.m. Opening of Walk of Honor at Hudson Crossing Park 12:30 to 1 p.m. Oswego High School Band and Choir with location TBA 1 p.m. Reading of…
41.68312
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Good Shepherd United Methodist Church and Little Shepherd Preschool
5 W Washington St, Oswego, IL
/articles/final-schedule-announced-for-911-memorial
1349625
/locations/5321903
41.683072
-88.355691
Hudson Crossing Park
65 N. Harrison St., Oswego, IL
/articles/final-schedule-announced-for-911-memorial
1782228
/locations/5321904
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The department will hold a family picnic and a graduation ceremony for recruits on Sunday, which Chief Rob Watermann describes as "an opportunity to reflect and remember."
In the upcoming days, the Fox Valley will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with a number of public ceremonies. But the Aurora Township Fire Department has decided on something a little more intimate. According to Chief Rob Watermann, the department will host a family picnic at its main fire station, at 1312 Seventh Avenue in Aurora. The event won’t be open to the public. Rather, it will be a chance for members of the department to remember what’s important, Watermann said. “Our take is, if there’s anything we’ve learned from 9/11, it’s that it’s important to celebrate and appreciate what we have today,” he said. “So many of us get busy, and forget about the important things, like family.” There will be a remembrance of …
John & Deb Blumenstein
11:39 am on Friday, September 16, 2011
Very poignant - "Those planes didn't tear us apart. We're stronger & I'm hoping better." From your lips to God's ears. . . bless us all. . . Thank you, Kevin. more ›