The teams gathered near midfield before kickoff Friday night in Palatine, joined hand in hand, Fremd player next to Hersey player, forming a massive circle.
A young boy and girl stood in the middle of the circle, holding American flags as the band played the national anthem and “God Bless America.”
Then, a moment of silence for the thousands of lives lost in Tuesday’s terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
Similar scenes and signs of unity took place throughout the Chicago area Friday night as high school football played on, despite the cancellation of all professional and most collegiate sports.
At Fremd, the tragedy had hit close to home: Former Fremd gymnast Mari-Ray Sopper was killed in the crash of one of the hijacked planes.
“We did this to show we may go out there and compete, but we’re all here together,” Fremd athletic director Jack Drollinger said of the ceremony. “It’s just a nice show of unity, which is what this is all about.”
At Wheaton North the situation was particularly somber, because two members of the community were victims of Tuesday’s events.
Mark Shurmeier, 44, a Wheaton North alumnus, reportedly was inside the World Trade Center at the time of the attacks and is among the nearly 5,000 missing. Todd Beamer, 32, a Wheaton Academy and Wheaton College graduate, was a passenger on one of the hijacked planes.
Candles were handed out at the entrance to Rexilius Field before the game against Glenbard North. Bleachers were decorated with red, white and blue balloons and streamers, and a banner hung from the press box reading “God Bless America.”
Just before kickoff, several hundred students and parents filed onto the track surrounding the field. The group gathered quietly along the home sideline and, with candles lit, led the crowd in a moment of silence.
Flags played a prominent role in many remembrances, but perhaps few flags carried as much meaning as the one flying at St. Rita’s stadium–it once flew on the battleship U.S.S. Arizona before it was sunk at Pearl Harbor.
The school president, Rev. Tom McCarthy, gave a eulogy honoring Tuesday’s victims and asked a special blessing on the rescue workers. The fence around the football field was decorated with red, white and blue ribbons.
At Lincoln-Way Central in New Lenox, a crowd estimated at 4,500 lit candles and waved flags during the pregame ceremony that paid tribute to the victims. School Supt. Lawrence Wyllie made a somber speech to a silent crowd as the 160-piece Lincoln-Way marching band softly played “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
“It feels different than the normal football Friday,” said Lincoln-Way’s standout defensive end, Rob Ninkovich. “It actually feels pretty weird. We’ve all been thinking about all the stuff that’s going on, and we’re affected by it.”
Homecoming was subdued at Niles West in Skokie, where the home team met Glenbrook North. Instead of the usual pep assembly, a memorial assembly was held for those lost in Tuesday’s attacks. Before the game, students sought contributions for the American Red Cross. The homecoming parade that has always run from the school through Skokie was canceled.
“We didn’t want any people dancing in the streets,” athletic director Steve Heuerman said.
Several dozen fans lit candles and others held small American flags aloft as the band played “Amazing Grace” at Oswego’s pregame tribute. Despite the capacity crowd and Oswego’s impending game against longtime rival Morris, there was nary a sound during a 60-second moment of silence.
At most games, only a handful of fans normally sing the national anthem.
Friday night, there was a quiet chorus of many voices.
