Sept. 11 Remembrance Ceremony Taking Place at Cmdr. Dan Shanower Memorial

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — The City is partnering with Naperville Responds for Veterans for the annual Sept. 11 remembrance event honoring the victims and heroes of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. This year’s speaker is Laura Murphy, who survived the attack at the World Trade Center. The event marks the 24th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the nation and the 22nd anniversary of the Cmdr. Dan Shanower Sept. 11 Memorial.

The remembrance will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11, at the memorial, located behind the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St., along the Riverwalk. The Naperville Municipal Band will begin playing music at 5:45 p.m. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held in the Municipal Center City Council Chambers.

Murphy worked in the North Tower of the World Trade Center and descended 59 floors to escape after American Airlines Flight 11 struck the building. Murphy, now a retired project manager who resides in Woodridge, frequently engages with the public to share her firsthand account of that week’s events. Mayor Scott A. Wehrli, Police Chief Jason Arres and Deputy Fire Chief Philip Giannattasio will also deliver brief remarks.

The annual remembrance pays tribute to Naval Cmdr. Dan Shanower, a Naperville native who died at his post in the Pentagon on 9/11, as well as all those who died in the terrorist attacks that day. The Naperville memorial, one of the first in the nation to be completed, was dedicated on Sept. 11, 2003. The event brings history to life, educating younger generations and providing an opportunity to reflect on and remember this pivotal moment in our country’s history. All are welcome to attend.

For more information about Naperville Responds for Veterans, visit https://www.napervilleresponds.org/. For more information about the City of Naperville, visit naperville.il.us.

Naperville's Sept. 11 remembrance event will take place at the Cmdr. Shanower Sept. 11 Memorial.

About Naperville: Located 28 miles west of Chicago, Naperville, Ill., is home to approximately 150,000 people. This vibrant, thriving city consistently ranks as a top community in the nation in which to live, raise children and retire. The city is home to acclaimed public and parochial schools, the best public library system in the country, an array of healthcare options and an exceptionally low crime rate. Naperville has ready access to a variety of public transportation, housing and employment options. The city’s diversified employer base features high technology firms, retailers and factories, as well as small and home-based businesses. Residents also enjoy world-class parks, diverse worship options, the opportunity to serve on several City boards and commissions, a thriving downtown shopping and dining area, a renowned outdoor history museum known as Naper Settlement and an active civic community. For more information, please visit our website at www.naperville.il.us.