Events around DeKalb County to commemorate 20th anniversary of 9/11 Saturday

A number of memorial ceremonies are planned around DeKalb County this weekend to mark the 20th anniversary of the events of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that killed 2,996 people. Here is how DeKalb County will mark the 9/11 anniversary, known as Patriot Day.

DeKalb

City of DeKalb Fire Department Remembrance Ceremony at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at DeKalb Fire Station No. 1, 700 Pine St. in DeKalb. The public is invited to join the DeKalb Fire Department at the fire station to honor the sacrifices of those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks. Masks are required for all who attend.

The solemn occasion will feature a presentation of colors by DeKalb firefighters, Honor Guard and bagpipes by DeKalb Firefighters Highland Guard. The American flag will be flown from atop the aerial ladder on the station’s fire engine from 9 a.m. until sundown.

At 11:30 a.m., the DeKalb American Legion Ceremonial Honor Guard will hold a military funeral to honor fellow Navy veteran Roger Holman at his graveside at Fairview Cemetery, 1400 S. First St. in DeKalb.

The ceremonial honor guard will make a brief presentation at 12:15 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 1204 S. Fourth St in DeKalb to honor first responders who lost their lives on Sept. 11.

Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. will hold a sunset ceremony at 7:15 p.m. on the acre grounds at 11504 Keslinger Road in DeKalb.

“We are pleased to honor the many first responders as well as our military service personnel that support the mission of acknowledging the tragedy that happened on September 11, 2001,” Nick Nagele, marketing director at Whiskey Acres, said in a statement. “This solemn occasion will be our way of supporting patriotism and respect for all that serve this nation to make our lives better.”

Sycamore

In the city of Sycamore, a ceremony will be held 7:30 a.m. at Sycamore Park just south of the Good Tymes Shelter. Police and fire officials from Sycamore will conduct the ceremony, which is open to the public. Sycamore’s police and fire honor guards will give a salute and bell ceremony, and U.S. Air Force band veteran Michael Embrey, of the American Legion Post #66, will play “Taps.”

Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University President Lisa Freeman and city of DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes will give remarks Friday in a ceremony on campus to mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11. The gathering will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at MLK Commons by the stairs near the commons on campus. Rain location is the Holmes Student Center Sky Room, 340 Carroll Avenue in DeKalb.

Genoa Public Library exhibit

The Genoa Public Library is hosting an exhibit called: “September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed the World,” a free educational exhibit that presents the history of 9/11, its origins and its ongoing implications through the personal stories of those who witnessed and survived the attacks. The 9/11 exhibit has been on display inside the library since Sept. 1 and will continue through Sept. 30 and is available for viewing during library open hours. The poster exhibit was developed by the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy Demands Wisdom.