Two Dariens Share A Common Cause For 9-11

DARIEN, IL — For months, Darien, Illinois, has been planning a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11. Officials recently learned that six residents of Darien's sister city, Darien, Connecticut, died in the terrorist attacks.

At a City Council meeting this week, Joseph Marchese, the mayor of Darien, Illinois, said a resident named Nick Darien (yes, that's his name) suggested that the Illinois city honor the Sept. 11 victims from its sister city.

Marchese said he thought it was a good idea. The plan is to have six flags at a local picnic with information about each of the six Connecticut victims.

This week, Marchese spoke with his counterpart from Darien, Connecticut, a New York City suburb. In that town, the mayor is called a first selectman, a position held by Jayme Stevenson. Marchese said Stevenson was glad that the Illinois city planned to honor the six victims, two of whom she knew.

He said Stevenson would like to visit Darien during the Sept. 11 ceremony or at some other point.

"We may see the first selectman at our 9-11 event," Marchese said.

Founded in 1969, Darien, Illinois, took its name from its sister city. Marchese said Stevenson let him know that the Connecticut city was proud of that fact.

In an email, Stevenson told Patch that she was interested in visiting Darien, Illinois.

"Given this is the 20th year of remembrance of 9/11, I may not be able to attend your planned events on 9/11 but will make every effort to come shortly before or after that date," she said.

The two Dariens have populations of a little more than 20,000. The towns pronounce their names differently.

The Darien, Connecticut, Sept. 11 victims were Christopher Gardner, Stephen LaMantia, Garry Lozier, William Meehan, Edward Maloney and John Works.