People from Oak Brook and surrounding communities participated in a multiday event to remember those lost in the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.
The Oak Brook Police Department set up a Healing Field, a field of 2,900 flags, each one commemorating someone who died in the attack.
The Police Department partnered with the True Patriots Care Foundation, which it has done in the past, to host the event. The multiday memorial began on Sept. 8, and featured a variety of tributes each evening, with larger services Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 11 and 12.
Those services included the placement of a 9/11 Memorial Wreath on Sept. 10 as well as a candlelight service by Reverend Daniel Meyer, Christ Church of Oak Brook.
On Sept. 11, the Navy Band performed, a presentation FDNY Lieutenant Kevin W. Donnelly’s helmet to an Oak Brook firefighter, by Donnelly’s nephew, Craig, who also spoke. Sue Mladenik, wife Jeff Mladenik, a passenger on American Airlines Flight 11, also spoke.
The healing field was initially held in 2017 when Kathy Koubek, the administrative coordinator for the chief of police, was tasked with organizing it after the chief saw the display of flags in a nearby city.
Koubek told Pioneer Press before the event that besides erecting nearly 3,000 flags, each flag was affixed with the name of a victim, a small biography and some commentary from family members and a colored string differentiating military personnel from civilians and firefighters from police.
On Sunday, students from the York High School National Honor Society read names of the victims. An Oak Brook Fire Department ladder truck flew a flag over Oak Brook Road for the 9/11 Motorcycle Tribute Ride to Remember to pass under.
Don Bacso, a World Trade Center 9/11 survivor, and Ryan Yantis, a Pentagon 9/11 survivor, were speakers on Sunday. Musical performances by the Butler 53 School Choir, York Community High School Band and Choir, and the Emerald Society followed the speakers.
The ceremonies ended with a 3 Volley Salute, bagpipes playing Amazing Grace, and a lone bugler playing taps.
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