After the tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001, a group of caring Naperville residents approached Mayor Pradel to form a committee to honor Cmdr. Dan Shanower, the Naperville native who was working at the Pentagon that fateful day and lost his life. The committee, spearheaded by Chuck Johanns, met and decided to build a memorial. At the request of the Shanower Family, the memorial is dedicated to all individuals who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 due to the terrorist attacks.
When the memorial was completed, the committee began holding a service on Sept. 11 to remember everyone who had died on that day in 2001. A few years later, the committee asked the Exchange Club to take over planning the service since it ties into their Americanism efforts.
This year on the 13th anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks, the Naperville Exchange Club again will host the annual Sept. 11 Remembrance at the Cmdr. Dan Shanower Memorial.
Mayor A. George Pradel will share his reflections about where he was on Sept. 11, 2001. Brian Hastings, Retired Detective NYPD, Office of Emergency Management, will be the featured speaker.
Naperville Men’s Glee Club will perform. Carillon bells will toll at 5:30PM, patriotic music will begin at 5:45PM, and the program will follow at 6PM.
As the sponsoring organization for this observance, the Exchange Club is honored to pay tribute to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice more than a decade ago on that fateful day.
The Cmdr. Dan Shanower Sept. 11 Memorial is located behind the Municipal Center along the Riverwalk. In case of rain, the event will take place inside Council Chambers at the Municipal Center.
For more information about the Exchange Club of Naperville or to attend a meeting, contact me at EmyTrotz@gmail.com.
