One World Trade Center stands in New York City at the site of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum as a beacon of American freedom. Here in Naperville, the Cmdr. Dan Shanower Sept. 11 Memorial, pictured at night years ago, also welcomes visitors every day to appreciate that “Freedom isn’t free.”
“May the lives remembered, the deeds recognized, and the spirit reawakened by eternal beacons, which reaffirm respect for life, strengthen our resolve to preserve freedom, and inspire an end to hatred, ignorance and intolerance.” —From the National September 11 Memorial Mission Statement


The Annual September 11 Remembrance under the leadership of retired firefighter Marty Walker will be hosted by Naperville Responds for Veterans, in cooperation with the City of Naperville at the Cmdr. Dan Shanower September 11 Memorial.
On the 23rd anniversary of the horrific attacks, the public is welcome to attend Naperville’s remembrance that begins with music performed by the Naperville Municipal Band at 5:45PM, followed by a 60-minute program at 6PM.
“For more than 15 years our organization has been meeting basic home repair needs of local Veterans and their families, recognizing their heroic service to protect our freedom,” noted Naperville Responds for Veterans board member Pat Rubald. “During that time, our group also has presented annual events to heighten awareness and express gratitude to Veterans and first responders… We’re honored to host this year’s observance on Sept. 11.”
Walker, who has served as chairman for 14 years on behalf of the Exchange Club of Naperville, noted that this year’s guest speaker will be high school senior Elizabeth McConkie. McConkie will recite her award-winning Voice of Democracy essay, representing Sycamore VFW and Auxiliary Post 5768 and the District 19 in Illinois.
The Cmdr. Dan Shanower Sept. 11 Memorial is located along the Riverwalk between the DuPage River and the Naperville Municipal Center in downtown Naperville. In the event of rain, the observance will be held in Council Chambers.
Thoughts by Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli
“Naperville will never forget those lives lost and heroes borne on September 11, 2001, and in the days, months and years after. Our Commander Shanower Memorial is not only a tribute, but also a place to reflect. In my walks from City Hall into the downtown, I often take pause there, while listening to the activity around me.
“Families with young children playing nearby… A person on a bench talking on the cell phone… Music played by a lone guitarist… It’s always a sobering moment for me to contrast what I’m hearing with absolute silence when I look at that wall.
“Thousands of lives lost – families forever changed – the simple beauty of what I’m hearing on a summer day, never to be heard again.
“As we gather again to commemorate this important day, it is also a reminder to be grateful for every day.”
Chance meeting at Cmdr. Dan Shanower Sept. 11 Memorial

Immediately following the Sept. 11 Remembrance Committee Meeting on Aug. 7, 2024, Chairman Walker and NPD Commander Jason Stubler visited the Memorial to consider some logistics plans for the upcoming ceremony. While there, Andrew Neely who now lives with his family in Plainfield, was learning about Cmdr. Dan Shanower and explaining the impressive features of the Memorial to his young children.
“Seeing your family interact with the Memorial is exactly why it’s there,” Walker said, quite touched by the happenstance he was experiencing.
After Walker introduced himself to the couple, Andrew Neely went on to say that he’d grown up in Staten Island, New York. He was 12 years old on Sept. 11, 2001, and he vividly remembers that day.
“This memorial is a piece of home to me,” Andrew Neely said. “It’s really important to never forget… Never forget. So many people just starting a regular day and to think of the horror they experienced high up in the towers… Thank you for all this… We’ll be back.”
Lean on US by artist Bill Cooper since 2003

Lean on US, a Century Walk sculpture, is dedicated to the more than 3,000 people who died in the September 11, 2001, attacks on America. Two hijacked airliners brought down the World Trade Center twin towers in New York City. A third plane hit The Pentagon. The fourth, whose target is unknown, crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers rose up against the terrorists.
The memorial sculpture contains a beam from the wreckage of the World Trade Center, fragments from the facade of the Pentagon, and granite from Pennsylvania symbolizing the freedom fighters of Flight 93. Incised into the surface of the granite are the insignias of the brave New York City rescue workers and a print of the boot of Commander Dan Shanower, a Navy intelligence officer and Naperville native who died in the Pentagon attack.
Lean on US is located in front of a concrete backdrop featuring 130 images of individuals, all ages, drawn by local school children that the artist later cast to create the Wall of Faces, remembrances of all who died that tragic day. —www.centurywalk.org

“Thank you to Naperville Responds for Veterans for carrying on this important day of remembrance,” added Mayor Wehrli. “And thank you to the Naperville Exchange Club for organizing this event for the decades prior.”
Editor’s Note / Whenever visiting New York City, plan at least a few hours to tour the 9/11 Memorial at the site of the former World Trade Center complex. Meanwhile, thanks to Chuck Johanns, co-chairman of the City commission that raised funds to create and build the Cmdr. Dan Shanower Sept. 11 Memorial. Dedicated in 2003, the Naperville memorial offers a place every day to recognize a trusted local hero as well as all the other innocent victims.

Note also, the Freedom Shrine located on the exterior wall behind the Naperville Municipal Center is just steps from the Cmdr. Dan Shanower Sept. 11 Memorial.
Many individuals old enough to have experienced that fateful day will never forget what the world witnessed on Sept. 11, 2001: the early morning sky throughout the nation that was so incredibly blue and the resilience that followed. —PN