In Leesburg, Great Chicago Fire owner honors lives lost and first responders on 9/11

Diane Richardson used to teach eighth graders in Illinois before she and her husband, former fire chief John Sokol, retired and moved to Leesburg. On Sept. 11 each year, she would show footage from 9/11 because teaching middle school students about the 2001 terrorist attacks was a state-mandated lesson in Illinois' public schools.

Students assumed that the scene was a trailer from the latest action blockbuster. They were shocked when Richardson told them that the scene of an airplane crashing into New York's World Trade Center was actual footage from 9/11.

"There's a whole generation who weren't born yet when 9/11 happened," Sokol said Monday during a ceremony he hosted in front of his establishment, the Great Chicago Fire Brewery and Tap Room. "It's important we educate and honor the memory of those who died that day."

Honoring first responders and veterans, on 9/11 and every other day of the year, is as much a part of Sokol's life's purpose as serving his craft beer, Chicago-style hot dogs and pizza.

Since opening the Great Chicago Fire in 2016, Sokol has invited the community to his downtown establishment and memorial to commemorate the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

On Monday afternoon, Sokol hosted the 22nd anniversary 9/11 remembrance, which took place adjacent to the Fire & Police Memorial he built in 2017, in front of his establishment at the corner of Third and Magnolia streets in downtown Leesburg.

The gathering combined solemn remembrance with a first-responder salute, not to mention patriotic performers and an overall spirit of unity.

Leesburg Police Chief Rob Hicks, local police officers, Lake County Sheriff's officials, fire rescue personnel and other local first responders showed up to this year's 9/11 remembrance event downtown.

"We built the memorial in 2017," Sokol told the Daily Commercial before the event. "We created two parts: One side is based on honoring law enforcement and the other side honors first responders and firefighters. It was painted in 2017 by local artist Michael Davis. He also did the artwork on the front and inside of the Great Chicago Fire Brewery."

Words from the Rev. Gary Kadow, a chaplain in New York on the day of the attacks, were shared via loudspeakers, from an interview on Bob Peters' "Central Florida Salute." Kadow's story gripped the crowd standing outside, spilling onto the sidewalk and road. You can follow the show on YouTube.

"Kadow retired from Federal Service in 1998 and began serving as a Government Liaison Officer with the National Red Cross Disaster Services Response Team," Sokol explained. "On the morning of 9/11, he was called to respond to the World Trade Center Disaster and was later sent to Ground Zero to assess the magnitude of the damage and determine the immediate needs ... his prior experience as an Episcopal Hospital Chaplain also allowed him to assist in providing communion, comfort and counseling to the first responders at the World Trade Center."

"If any good came out of 9/11, we learned what a country united can accomplish," Sokol added.

Vocalist Joa Jane Harpster performed the National Anthem, and Nathan Jay Leslie sang a heartfelt "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood.

"I have known Joa and Nate for several years," Sokol shared. "Nate plays many of our events including our monthly car show and bike nights. Joa has sung the National Anthem for us before and will soon be doing some vocal tracks for me at my Leesburg-based record label, Sugar Dog Records."

Sokol stays busy supporting first responders and community causes. The founder of Bikes and BBQ 4 Autism and Prevent-Educate.org, a firefighter, emergency medical services and first responder organization that works on behalf of autism awareness, is also a volunteer fire support captain at Umatilla Fire Department. Among his many other pursuits, he runs a music label and  The Warehouse Social Club & Eatery - Live Music, Karaoke, Arcade & More at 312 S. Second St., an establishment that raises funds for first responders.

Read more about John Sokol: Master of the craft

Prevent-Educate.org, he said, started as a safety program for children as the fire and life safety officer for the fire department, Sokol explained. Parents approached him about creating a safety program for children on the Autism spectrum.

"I created four safety animations, a video on individuals with autism and facilitated a visit to the fire station," he said. "I learned quickly as a firefighter that the issue on a call involving individuals with autism would be more on the first responder side. Their reactions were counter to everything we learned in the fire academy. That's when I switched focus and started teaching first responders better awareness and interaction skills. ... I go to fire conferences across the country and convince firefighters of the importance of the training. The training is always free and funded through Helmets 4 Autism, painted fire helmets he's raffled off to raise money for autism awareness. (More helmets will be auctioned soon, Sokol said. Follow the Prevent-Educate.org Facebook page for updates.)

The retired firefighter also wonders if he'd have been diagnosed on the spectrum if he had been born later.

"I have never formally been diagnosed, because it wasn't a thing when I was a child, but I have many traits of a person with Asperger's," he said. "I have had a lifetime to learn to control my emotions and my reactions."

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: 9/11 event is a tradition for Downtown Leesburg restaurant owner