Weekend Ushers in DarienFest, Sept. 11 Rememberance Ceremonies

For those attending this year’s Chamber of Commerce-sponsored DarienFest and wondering what to wear, event organizers have a few suggestions.

In observance of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, it will also be American Pride Weekend in Darien during the festival.

“We’re encouraging everybody to wear red, white and blue,” said Clare Bongiovanni, the Darien Chamber of Commerce president and chief operating officer.

The 24th annual DarienFest will be held from Sept. 9 through Sept. 11, at , 71st Street and Clarendon Hills Road. The event will feature food, beverages, carnival rides and musical entertainment.

The plans to host a at 8:45 a.m. Sept. 11, and unveil the piece of a 3-foot section of steel I-beam salvaged from the 9/11 attack at the World Trade Center.

will hold a separate ceremony at 11 a.m. Sept. 11 to dedicate a memorial built around an pulled from the wreckage of the Twin Towers.

At 4:30 p.m. Sunday on the main stage, DarienFest coordinators have also put together a remembrance ceremony, which will include the Darien VFW Post 2838 and the DuPage County-based, non-governmental Salute the Armed Forces organization, as well as a moment of silence.

“I’m sure we’ll adding more touches to it,” Bongiovanni said.

Salute the Armed Forces, dedicated to raising funds to benefit members of military services and disabled veterans, will be participating in the expo to help spread the word the word about the organization. Founder Ed LeTourneau, as well as other members of the group, will be selling 10th anniversary commemorative gold coins for $15.

“And 100 percent of the proceeds will go where they should — to our veterans,” LeTourneau said.

Salute the Armed Forces offers a variety of difference services for veterans, he said.

“From employment to complete rehabilitiation to financial services and housing, amongst other things we do,” LeTourneau said.

New to this year’s festival is the Community Business Expo, which will be held all three days.

“We’re so excited,” Bongiovanni said. “We’ve done little ones in the past but this year we have 22 businesses and organizations that are going to be participating. Just that alone is going to enhance the fest so much more.”

Also during the festival weekend, Christ The Servant Church will host bingo games and a food drive. People can bring their non-perishable foods to the bingo tent on the festival grounds.

For more information about DarienFest, visit the Darien Chamber of Commerce's website.