Survivor of Pentagon attack to be featured in Naperville 9/11 ceremony

Naperville's Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony will feature a speech by retired Army Lt. Col. Ryan Yantis, who survived the 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon.

The ceremony, hosted by the Exchange Club of Naperville in partnership with the city, will take place at 10:45 a.m. Sunday at the Cmdr. Dan Shanower Memorial on the north side of the Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St. Shanower, a Naperville native, died in the Pentagon attack.

Yantis, who served 22 years in the Army, will share his personal experience from Sept. 11. Yantis, a Crystal Lake resident, is vice president of education and outreach for American Pride Inc., a nonprofit organization that supports Sept. 11 survivors.

Yantis collaborated with survivors to write "9/11 Survivors' Stories: Midwest Memories," a book detailing the experiences of 10 survivors.

Naperville Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis and Police Chief Jason Arres also will speak at Sunday's ceremony, which will take place inside the Municipal Center in case of rain.

Visit naperville.il.us for more details about the ceremony. For more information about the Exchange Club, visit exchangeclub.org.