Oak Forest to Dedicate New 9/11 Memorial

The City of Oak Forest will hold a dedication of its new 9/11 Memorial on Thursday, September 11 at 11 a.m. outside City Hall, 15440 S. Central Ave. The memorial includes the remnant of the World Trade Center that was procured by Mayor Hank Kuspa—with help from former state Senator Maggie Crotty and United States Senator Dick Durbin—in 2012.

“The memorial is simple yet striking,” said Mayor Hank Kuspa. “Even if they cannot make the dedication ceremony, I hope residents visit the memorial on Thursday to reflect on the events of that tragic day in 2001. The memorial is our constant reminder of the lives that were lost, the families that mourn those lives and the men and women who continue to fight for our freedom.”

The World Trade Center artifact sits inside two pentagons. The outer pentagon is made out of stamped concrete while the inner pentagon contains native grasses. The entrance to the memorial and the five points of the outer pentagon are lit by square LED bollard lights. A plaque with information about the memorial sits in front of the artifact.

The Oak Forest Social Services Corporation provided the funding for the project, which cost $45,000. A portion of those funds was used to upgrade the electrical system around the memorial and replace the roof on the city’s gazebo.

The Social Services Corporation was created in 1980 to further the common good and general welfare of Oak Forest residents by bringing civic betterments and social improvements to the city. In 2008, the corporation provided funding for the construction of the Veterans Memorial at City Hall.