It's be nine-years since the cowardly attacks on New York City, Washington DC and Shanksville, PA. September 11th, now known across our great nation as "Patriot Day," is a time to for us to remember, reflect and celebrate the real American heroes who have sacrificed so much for our country.

Osama bin Laden's twisted dream, banking America would just let it go after a few months, backfired in many ways. The Taliban were thrown out of power within a month after the USA and coalition forces brought the fight to them, on their turf. Although the fight is not over, the Taliban is still NOT in power for almost nine-years.

 Bin Laden's dream of tearing America apart backfired as well. Every time I hear the words "September 11th," I see images of those incredible FDNY Firefighters and NYPD Police Officers rushing to aid of the 25,000 people who worked in the World Trade Center, in the largest life-saving evacuation in history. One of the greatest quotes of that day, was when an FDNY Firefighter was asked by a reporter; " ... when you saw that the building was beginning to fall, why did you run back in?"  American is more patriotic today, then we were on September 10th 2001.

 The firefighter answered, " ... because we were trained to run into fire to save lives, we do not run away from it."

I think back to my year with the FDNY Firefighters from Engine 55. The days spent with FF's John Olivero, Bobby Yost, Richie Cippolleti, Capt. Tom Toomey, Lt. Rocko Bastista and my dear friend Cliff Russell, brother of lost FF Stephen P Russell, are as clear in my mind today, as they were 9-years ago.

 Cliff Russell traveled to Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, Africa, UAE and Kuwait with our band, the 101st Rock Division and spoke to our awesome Troops, thanking them for keeping the fight off of the streets of New York and Chicago, and delivering knockout punches to our enemies day after day.

 American and her Coalition partners have liberated 25,000,000 people over the past nine-years, bringing freedom to another part of the world. We were given the opportunity to speak with the Iraqi people while on tour in 2004. MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, 99%  love our Troops and they love America. It seems to be the same for the people of Afghanistan; I'm talking about the real people, the ones who were oppressed by the Taliban.

 Many American heroes rose to the top, during these past nine-years, just by doing what was right at the time. Many American heroes paid the ultimate price for American freedom; Geoff Morris, Phil Frank, Kevin Clarke, Kevin Grieco, Kirk Straseskie, Ed Davis Jr., and my cousin Ryan J. Cantafio, just to name a few.

 HOW/WHERE TO REMEMBER, REFLECT and CELEBRATE.

 For people in the Illinois/Wisconsin area here are a few suggestions on how to spend Patriot Day.

 SEPTEMBER 9 - USO of Illinois presents "CLARK AFTER DARK"  Thursday Night, Clark and Hubbard Street ... Joe Cantafio & the 101st Rock Division, PLUS Blackhawks, Kerri Turner, Lise Dominique,Geoff "the Pinker" Pinkus and many more celebrity bartenders with SOLDIERS, SAILORS, MARINES, COAST GUARDSMEN & AIRMEN ... Don't miss this party ... CLARK AFTER DARK sponsored by USO of ILLINOIS! Proceeds help to support our heroes overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan and as they return home.

 SEPTEMBER 10 - 7:30 AM Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, IL - "Remembering September 11th." Students a falculty welcome the public to remember and reflect with them at the schools memorial for a 15-minute ceremony before school.

 SEPTEMBER 11 - Naperville Riverwalk ~ Dan Shanower Memorial ~ On the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Naperville Exchange Club is sponsoring the annual September 11 remembrance at the Cmdr. Dan Shanower Memorial.

This year’s event will take place at 8 a.m. on Saturday, September 11 at the Cmdr. Shanower Memorial, located behind the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St., along the Riverwalk. In case of rain, the event will take place inside the Naperville Municipal Center.

 SEPTEMBER 11 - Barrington, IL Freedom Festival - Train Station 9:11 AM Freedom Run, a 9.11 mile run. Noon Opening ceremony with a USMC General speaking, entertainment all afternoon.

 SEPTEMBER 11 - Beaver Dam, WI - 10:00 AM "Heroes Parade" featuring firefighters, police officers, Soldiers, Marines and Gold Star Families. 12:30 PM Swan City Park Opening Ceremony for the 2nd Annual AMERICAN HERO MUSIC FESTIVAL. Entertainment - 2:00  Country Music Star-Joey Glenn. 3:30 Wisconsin rockers- The Crystal Waters Band. 5:00 Beaver Dam own-ALEXIS 7:00 USO Entertainers- Joe Cantafio & the 101st Rock Division. Beaver Dam, WI is the hometown of Ryan J Cantafio, USMC who paid the ultimate price for American freedom on Thanksgiving Day 2004. The AMERICAN HERO MUSIC FESTIVAL honors Troops, Veterans, 1st Responders and Patriot Motorcycle Groups and is hosted by Gold Star Families.

 SEPTEMBER 11 - Noon, Camp Lincoln, Springfield, IL - September 11th ceremony honor all Illinois National Guard and Illinois National Air Guard who have paind the ultimate price since September 11, 2001.

 September 11 - 2:00PM - Chicago, 2nd Battalion 24th Marines is honoring all 2/24 Mairnes who have paid the ultimate price with a new memorial in their honor. My cousin Ryan J Cantafio is one of those Marines being honored. We are very proud of him!