Pearls of the Past: 9/11 Memorial

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September 11, 2001, a day the entire country will never forget, and that dark day certainly hit close to home for our community.

Commander Dan Shanower was killed when American Airlines flight 77 was hijacked and crashed into his post at the Pentagon.  His death inspired our city to build one of the first 9/11 memorials in the country.

Every year on September 11, Shanower’s family – and the greater Naperville family – gather at the 9/11 memorial along the Riverwalk for a remembrance ceremony.  Shanower’s famous quote “Freedom isn’t free” serves as a permanent reminder of the sacrifices our men and women in uniform make each day.