9/11 Memorial Group Donates To Local Charities

When Peg Mulhall and her friends decided to organize the 9/11 American Flag Memorial Project, no one dreamed how successful it would be and how their work would help others.

The 9/11 Memorial committee received $7,800 in donations for the project, held on the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Mulhall, Mary Neigebaurer, Michele Neigebauer, Catherine Portera, Linda Bahwell and Barb Sracco organized the project which included putting 2,977 flags in Sun City Huntley.

The committee spent $3,400 on the project and saved some funds for next year, Mulhall said. The remaining, $3,400 was equally split and donated to the following charities:

• New Horizons
• Toys for Toys
• Gifts for the Yanks
• Grafton Food Pantry
• Wounded Warriors

Each charity had a local tie, Mulhall said.

Next year, “it will be very simple,” she said.

The committee will once again put up the flags but may just hold a prayer and play Taps, she said. Plans are still up in the air. The flag display will be up for people to view and reflect on, she said.

“We’re not going to attempt to do something as wonderful as this year, it’s too hard an act to follow,” Mulhall said.

This year’s event drew hundreds of people for speeches and performances. Mulhall said the committee has a beautifully edited one-hour video of the memorial on DVD for sale. The cost is $10. To reserve a copy, email Mulhall at oct2006@comcast.net.