Village of Huntley pays tribute on the 20th anniversary of 9/11
On Saturday, Sep. 11, the Village of Huntley elected officials and other Huntley area agencies invited residents to the town square for a remembrance ceremony to honor those who had tragically lost their lives during the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sep. 11, 2001.
The ceremony began at 9:11 a.m. with Huntley Mayor Tim Hoeft delivering opening statements. Following a flag presentation by the Color Guard, Huntley Police Chief Robert Porter led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Porter then went on to detail his experience with the 9/11 attacks.
“I remember it [like] it was yesterday. We always had the conversation, ‘Where were you when 9/11 happened?’ At the time, I was chief of police for literally one month for another agency. Like many of you I will never forget when the first tower was hit and at the time, we did not know what exactly was behind that action,” Porter told attendees. “But when the second tower was hit, I think we all knew. In my initial feeling at the time was obviously shock, fear, just like many of you. But then we basically processed it into action and you know, as devastating as the event was, I will never forget how this country banded together and I was thinking about that all week.”
Porter went further to explain how through community efforts, firefighters were able to collect thousands of dollars from individuals regardless of political affiliation or background.
“Right now, this country is so divided in so many different ways right now. It’s been just a brutal 19 [to] 20 months and to see the country kind of pull together on a day like this, be proud to be an American,” said Porter.
Sun City resident and former WGN agribusiness reporter Orion Samuelson proceeded to then read to attendees a detailed timeline of what occurred on Sep. 11, 2001 and the days following the attacks.
Samuelson and other community members became emotional upon hearing some of the final messages from individuals who were on board the hijacked planes or those who were trapped within the Twin Towers.
Eric Bentley, a battalion chief for the Huntley Fire Protection District, also presented his account of how that day affected him.
“I’ve been fortunate to have paid my respects by visiting the hollow grounds of Ground Zero. Stood where the footings were where those towers were anchored to the earth. Stood in awe as I stared at the mangled Ladder Three, imagining what it may have been like for my brothers and sisters of FDNY. I felt empty as I learned about the active repository behind the concrete wall covered in artistic watercolors where they continue to DNA test and match over 11 unidentified remains. Two which they have identified this past week,” Bentley recounted.
Bentley then explained to attendees the tradition of the bell ceremony used by fire departments to memorialize firefighters who have died in the line of duty.
“To symbolize the devotion that these brave souls had for their duty, a special signal of three rings, three times each represent the end of our comrade’s duties and that they will be returning to quarters and so, to those that have selflessly given their life for the good of their fellow man, their task completed, their duty is well done. To our comrades, their last alarm, they are going home,” Bentley explained as the bell ceremony commenced.
After the conclusion of the 9/11 remembrance ceremony, My Huntley News talked with residents Jean and John Petras on their experience with having visited memorials in both New York and at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.
“I’m telling you; you go there and you were absolutely speechless. You could hear a pin drop. Nobody says a word. It’s so breathtaking,” Jean said. “It’s something every American should see. That’s for sure.”
The couple recalled what they were doing the day the incident happened.
“We were sitting in our kitchen having coffee when it happened and we’re like ‘What did happen?’ You know, it takes you a minute to really realize what you’re seeing,” said Jean.
“We saw the first plane crash into the North Tower [and] we thought it was an accident. When the second one flew into the South Tower then you knew,” said John.
My Huntley News also spoke to Huntley Police Officers Brock Larkin and Rich Miller on their experiences with 9/11.
“I was in sixth grade so they were kind of airing it in school and stuff like that. So, that’s pretty much what we were doing the whole day. Just kind of realize what was going on and everything like that. The magnitude and everything,” Larkin said.
“I was a freshman in college. I was going to Harper College at that time living at home. I was eating breakfast, turned the news on. They were reporting on the first tower. As I was watching, that’s when they said ‘We’re getting word that the second tower has been hit.’ So, that was kind of how my day started. Went on to school. That’s all we talked about for an hour and a half,” Miller said.
Miller continued, “Went home, had plans to have lunch, went to another class. Went on to that second class and all the bomb threats started happening around the school so the campus was shut down for the day. Went back home and the rest of the week that was kind of all that was discussed. Class was kind of set aside.”
Miller went on to state that despite the division in communities across the nation, Huntley appears to maintain a sense of togetherness.
“What we experience a lot in this community is togetherness. A lot of support in this community,” Miller said.
