Has it Been 10 Years? Elmhurst Remembers Like it Was Yesterday

When a group of Spring Road businessmen first started tossing around the idea of creating a monument, fountain or some sort of resting place at Wild Meadows Trace about 10 years ago, they had no idea their plans would become laser-focused just a few months later.

"We hadn't gone much further than thinking about it when the events of 9/11 occurred," said Todd Benson, former president of the Spring Road Business Association and owner of Castco Communications in Elmhurst.  

As the country was thrown into shock during those following weeks and months in 2001, Doug Kuester, then owner of Great American Exteriors, had the idea of creating a memorial for those who died on 9/11. Kuester, Benson, and a multitude of volunteers and local businesses all got on board, and with the blessing of the Elmhurst Park District began raising the more than $80,000 needed to build "Elmhurst Remembers."

It took a long time to finish—it wasn't dedicated until September 2004—and sadly Doug Kuester never saw its completion. He died six months prior. But Benson took the lead as the initiative wrapped up its donation drive and the work was completed.

"I promised (Kuester's) kids that I would complete the project," Benson said. 

"The design came to me in the middle of the morning while I was taking a shower," he said of the memorial's blueprint.

It is a map of the United States with three stars: one in New York, one in Washington, D.C., and one in Pennsylvania.

"Our hope is that in 50 years, a little kid walking through the park and looking at the map will ask, 'Why are there three stars?' Then, the story will have to be told," Benson said.

After seven years, the trees that are part of the memorial have reached maturity.

"It's become a very private, natural enclosure," Benson said. "When you're in there, you're kind of by yourself, which is nice."

At 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, a public ceremony will be held at the memorial to honor the 10th anniversary of 9/11. A group of residents, including a police officer, a firefighter and others, will tell the story of 9/11 as written by York High School history teacher Peter Anderson, Benson said. The Mens Chorus of DuPage County will sing, the York High School Band and bag pipe musicians will perform, and Brig. Gen. John Wendell will say a prayer.

All are welcome to come, remember and connect once again to the meaning of that day.

"This should be a nice event," said Benson.