Rockford, IL – Residents of Rockford and surrounding Winnebago County are invited to gather Thursday morning for a remembrance ceremony honoring the lives lost in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
According to the Rockford Fire Department, the 24th Anniversary 9/11 event will take place Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 9 a.m. at the Memorial Site on West State and Chestnut streets, just west of the Winnebago County Justice Center.
The ceremony will include the placement of a floral wreath near the steel beams on display, followed by a moment of silence. Organizers said the event is expected to last 15 to 20 minutes, offering a brief but meaningful opportunity for the community to reflect and honor those who lost their lives.
The gathering is open to the public, elected officials, department leaders, and all first responders from across Winnebago County and the City of Rockford. Local officials encourage residents to attend and stand alongside emergency personnel in remembrance.
The Winnebago County 9/11 Emergency Responders Memorial has hosted similar events for more than a decade, drawing support from across northern Illinois.
This year marks the 24th anniversary of the attacks, which claimed nearly 3,000 lives and forever changed the course of U.S. history.
