Community Corner
Half a Country Away, Darien, Ill. Honors Namesake's 9/11 Victims
Six of Connecticut's fallen were given a special mention on Sunday during the Illinois city's 9/11 ceremony.
As Darien to mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the names of its residents killed in the collapse of the World Trade Center rang out at a ceremony halfway across the country.
In Darien, Ill. — a suburban community located west of Chicago — rides, games, and crowds at the city's annual stood silent for 20 minutes while festival-goers paused to reflect on the lives lost in the attacks.
Members of , the , veterans support group Salute the Armed Forces, and city officials appeared at to lead an observance of the occasion.
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The six 9/11 victims who lived in Darien, Conn. — Christopher Gardner, Stephen LaMantia, Garry Lozier, William Meehan, Edward Maloney, and John Works — received a special mention at the ceremony, where VFW Commander Ed Oldis reminded the crowd of a somber connection with the city’s Connecticut namesake.
“We too will remember their loss,” Oldis said.
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Here in Connecticut, VFW Post 6933 commander Phil Kraft read a message from Oldis during Sunday's observance at .
Oldis promised that local victims and their families would "be in our thoughts in prayers as we participate in 10th anniversary ceremonies this weekend."
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