The Peoria Riverfront Museum will host a formal remembrance ceremony on Friday to observe the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The milestone commemoration will bring together regional dignitaries, emergency personnel, and members of the public to reflect upon one of the most transformative and tragic moments in modern American history.
Scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, the ceremony honors the memories of the nearly 3,000 individuals who lost their lives a quarter-century ago during the coordinated attacks in New York City, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and in a field near Shanksville in rural Pennsylvania. A broad coalition of state and municipal officials is slated to participate in the gathering alongside local residents.
Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger is scheduled to preside over the formal proceedings. The chief will lead the morning remembrance with collaborative support from a distinguished assembly of community leaders, museum board members, and prominent institutional benefactors who have united to ensure the milestone anniversary receives appropriate civic recognition.
The memorial service is being presented directly in conjunction with a landmark special showcase titled "We Remember." This presentation was assembled in close institutional partnership with the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, establishing a unique regional platform to educate visitors and honor those who perished.
As a central component of the exhibition, museum guests will be granted access to a one-of-a-kind collection of authentic artifacts connected to the disaster. The showcase features historical items and specialized equipment that first responders and emergency personnel utilized during the arduous rescue and recovery missions at the disaster sites.
In addition to physical equipment, the exhibition incorporates structural items and personal remnants carefully recovered from the rubble at Ground Zero following the collapse of the Twin Towers. These authentic fragments offer visitors a tangible connection to the scale of destruction endured on that morning twenty-five years ago.
The educational narrative within "We Remember" is further enriched by recorded firsthand testimonies from individuals who witnessed the tragedies unfold. These firsthand accounts are displayed alongside an array of reflective artworks that were created by artists and survivors in the direct aftermath of the strikes to express mourning, resilience, and unity.
A deeply poignant focal point of both the ceremony and the exhibition is the commemoration of Charles "Chip" Chan, who holds the solemn distinction of being the only native of Peoria to lose his life during the terrorist attacks.
Chan had established a career as a bond trader and was working inside his firm's offices on the 105th floor of the North Tower at the World Trade Center when the tragedy occurred. His life was cut short when hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the high-rise structure, making his story a powerful personal link connecting the global catastrophe directly to the Peoria community.
Chan's parents, Julia and John Chan, are scheduled to be in attendance as honored participants during Friday’s memorial program. Demonstrating enduring commitment to their son’s legacy and public remembrance, the Chans have also stepped forward as key sponsors supporting both the commemorative service and the wider museum exhibition.
The presence of the Chan family serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring grief experienced by families across the nation. Their philanthropic sponsorship facilitates access for regional residents seeking to pay their respects to those who died alongside their son in the North Tower.
Organizers have emphasized that broad civic engagement is central to the museum's mission for the event. The assembly of state and local leaders serves to underscore the shared regional solidarity and the enduring communal obligation to uphold the promise of collective remembrance across generations.
The milestone commemoration also highlights the value of the Peoria Riverfront Museum’s collaboration with the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. By establishing this partnership, the local institution brings rare national historical artifacts directly to central Illinois residents who might not otherwise have the opportunity to travel to New York or Washington.
For those planning to attend the Friday morning gathering, the event is entirely free and open to all members of the general public. While admission is provided without cost, organizers have made tickets available for advance acquisition through the official Peoria Riverfront Museum website to accommodate community interest.
Visitors will have extended opportunities to engage with the educational materials following the formal memorial service. The "We Remember" exhibition is scheduled to remain on public view at the Peoria Riverfront Museum through April 11, 2027, allowing students, educators, and community members ample time to experience its historical tributes.
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