Community Corner

JJC Holding Events Wednesday to Remember 9/11 Victims

A ceremony will be held at 8:45 a.m. at the main Joliet campus followed by a showing of the film, "In Memoriam: New York City, 9/11/01."

Joliet Junior College submitted this news release:

Joliet Junior College will honor those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 8:45 a.m. at the Main Campus Alumni Bell Tower and flagpole, located in front of the Campus Center at 1215 Houbolt Road in Joliet. After the ceremony, JJC will host a 9/11 movie tribute in the Campus Center Cafeteria.

The Will County Sheriff’s Police Rifle Squad, the Joliet Police Department Honor Guard, and the Joliet Fire Department Pipes and Drum Unit are scheduled to participate in the event along with police and fire personnel from neighboring communities.

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READ MORE: Blind 9/11 Survivor to Speak at JJC on Sept. 12

JJC Police Chief Pete Comanda said everyone is welcome to attend the ceremony, which will include a number of musical tributes. Comanda said “God Bless America,” “Taps,” and “Amazing Grace,” are a few songs on the performance playlist. JJC’s flag will be positioned at half-mast during the ceremony, and at the end of the service, the crowd will pause for a moment of silence.

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This is the first year a fire truck and ambulance from JJC’s fire science technology program will be at the event. Every year, a group of JJC fire science students are present to honor the first responders and victims of 9/11.

See photos from last year’s 9/11 Ceremony at JJC

Comanda said honoring first responders – both locally and first responders who risked their lives in 2001 – is a very important part of JJC’s ceremony.

“All first responders go to work knowing that something could happen to them that day – that’s something most other jobs don’t entail,” Comanda said. “First responders understand there may be a situation on any given day, when they’re forced to put their life at risk. And those people helping out in New York paid the ultimate price.”

After JJC’s 9/11 ceremony, the public is invited to watch a movie called “In Memoriam: New York City, 9/11/01.” The hour-long film created in 2002, which will play in the Campus Center Cafeteria, is set to begin immediately after JJC’s 9/11 ceremony concludes.

For more information about JJC’s 9/11 ceremony, contact Pete Comanda by e-mail at pcomanda@jjc.edu or call him at 815-280-6606.


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