Palatine Fire Personnel On Hand as J.C. Restoration Hosts 9/11 Ceremony With Flag of Heroes

An American flag that has been raised during military operations overseas was at the center of a ceremony in which Palatine Rural fire department personnel participated on the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The observance, held at J.C. Restoration, 3200 Squibb Ave. in Rolling Meadows, honored those who perished in the attacks.

Retired Chicago Fire Department Deputy District Chief Ed Enright served as the featured speaker. Area police and fire officials, including Chief Jeff Dill, Sergeant Thomas Gadomski and Dale Stankiewicz from the Palatine Rural Fire Department were among area first-responders on hand.

Also among those present were Rolling Meadows Deputy Fire Chief Scott Franzgote, Battalion Fire Chief Pete Till and Police Chief David Scanlan.

The ceremony’s focal point was The Flag of Heroes, which bears the names of firefighters, police officers and Port Authority officers who lost their lives while responding to the events of Sept. 11. The flag has been flown by Marine, Army and Air force personnel during military missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The flag was also flown in a St. Patrick's Day Parade in Baghdad by Sgt. Scott McWilliams to lead the parade for American troops.

On Tuesday, the Rolling Meadows Police honor guard and fire department leaders were in attendance.

J.C. Restoration employee Tom Taff, a retired Chicago firefighter, organized the event along with the company owner, Warner Cruz.

A fire chief gave the flag to Taff in 2002. In his role as founder of Bucks For Burns, a charity that aids children who are burn survivors, Taff has flown the flag in parades throughout the country, including Chicago, New York, Boston and Savannah. For his work with Bucks For Burns, Taff in 2011 received the Venerable Mary Potter Humanitarian Award.

Taff, who was working in a Chicago firehouse 11 years ago Tuesday, has organized blood drives and fundraisers for the families of the victims of 9/11. An active firefighter
in the city of Chicago for 16 years, Taff is the executive of emergency services for 1-800 BOARD UP, a division of J.C. Restoration.

About J.C. Restoration, Inc.

JCR is one of the fastest-growing independent restoration companies in the Midwest.

For 30 years, JCR has been providing top quality service, training, and support, earning them an exemplary reputation among their clients, customers, and peers.

To learn more about JCR, please call 800.956.8844 or visit www.jcr24.com.