Skokie and North Shore Mark 25 Years Since 9/11

On Friday, people in Skokie and other North Shore communities paused to remember the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which took place exactly 25 years ago. Flags flew at half-staff across the area as residents and first responders gathered for memorial ceremonies. The Skokie Fire Department hosted three separate events to honor the nearly 3,000 people who died that day. It was a morning full of reflection, gratitude, and sorrow.

Skokie resident Kathy Ryan attended one of the ceremonies at Fire Station 16 on Niles Center Road, the headquarters of the Skokie Fire Department. She still remembers exactly where she was when the attacks happened. "I'll never forget the day it happened," she said. She was at home getting ready for her bowling league when her husband called her over to the TV. At first, he thought a small plane had hit one of the towers, but Ryan knew something far worse was happening.

Ryan said the whole world seemed to go quiet right after the attacks. All airline flights were grounded across the country, and the sky fell silent. "All of a sudden, everything got silent," she said. "It was the eeriest thing — you could hear the birds." Her friend Ann Green, who was also at the ceremony, shared her grief. "My parents lost friends," Green said. "It's just sad. It's a sad day." Both women return to the fire station every year to honor the victims and the first responders who died helping others.

On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four airplanes and used them as weapons. Two planes crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, one hit the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., and a fourth went down in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in total. This year marked a full quarter century — 25 years — since that devastating day, making the ceremonies feel especially meaningful to many who attended.

The Skokie ceremony began at 8:59 a.m., just moments before the time that Flight 175 struck the south tower of the World Trade Center. Members of the fire department, police officers, emergency operators, and other public safety workers took part in an honor guard procession. Dozens of local residents watched as first responders marched, lowered the flag, and then bowed their heads in a moment of silence. The event was calm, respectful, and deeply emotional.

Skokie Fire Chief Nicholas Eschner said the day carries great meaning for the entire fire service community. "Not only do we have to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice on that day...but also we learned a lot from this day," he said. He explained that lessons from 9/11 changed the way fire departments across the country handle emergencies, from how they communicate to how they organize large rescue efforts. The Skokie Fire Department has held this same ceremony nearly every year since 2002, keeping the tradition almost identical each time.

Chief Eschner also shared something personal — he was a high school sophomore on the day of the attacks. Watching the tragedy unfold inspired him to commit fully to becoming a firefighter. "I remember sitting in that computer lab, and really I knew I wanted to be a firefighter, but [9/11] kind of catapulted me into [this being] a permanent decision for me," he said. His story reflects how that terrible day shaped the lives and career choices of many people who were young at the time.

Skokie Police Chief Jesse Barnes said 9/11 also changed the way law enforcement works in America. Officers now focus more on training, technology, and new tools to keep communities safe. "A lot of officers decided on this career based on some of the events that happened that day too," he said. Barnes added that seeing community members show up for the ceremony each year means a great deal to him and the entire department. Their presence shows that the public still values and supports the work of first responders.

Other North Shore communities also held their own events on Friday. In Evanston, the fire and police departments hosted a memorial attended by state lawmakers, a former mayor, and a 9/11 survivor named Mark Shore. Winnetka organized a flag display and community observances, while Glencoe planned a morning ceremony at a veterans flagpole. In Northfield, residents and first responders gathered at the fire rescue facility and rang the station bell to mark the moment the first tower fell. Across the region, communities came together to make sure the memory of 9/11 lives on.