Inside: Willowick man continues tradition of Sept. 11 remembrance

Willowick man’s expansive tribute still draws visitors from across the region

For nearly a decade, during a particular stretch of days in September, Bill Sabin has been plied with questions about the memorial in his yard.

The 48-year-old Willowick resident gladly welcomes it.

“You don’t do something like this over and over and not expect attention,” he said.

With 2021 marking the ninth year of Sabin’s evolving 9/11 display, made up of 2,997 flags, 50 firefighter helmets, first responder agency patches and other adornments, the tribute continues to garner attention across the region.

The 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks isn’t lost on Sabin, either, as he and his wife, Wendy, have added a collection of additional flags designed in the shape of the number.

The couple have also included a line of 13 flags to the right of the tribute, representing the 13 U.S. service members who were killed in Kabul on Aug. 26.

Previous additions remain at the site, including a binder bearing the names of those who died and a collection of symbolic plastic military figurines reminding visitors to pray for first responders.

When the decorating began, it was small, starting with a single-digit amount of flags, gradually growing to take up about onefourth of the Sabins’ front lawn.

To date, the six-hour process of placement, when complete, covers nearly all of it.

As a veteran — Sabin served as a petty officer second class in the United States Navy — the inspiration to create the tribute was reflexive.

“It really hits home,” he said. “I’ve always had the utmost respect for first responders and everything they do. Their jobs are so crucial and critical. They keep us safe. Even when I was home on

“Never forgetting that terrible day is exactly the point. It means too much to too many people. It’s bigger than all of us.”” — Bill Sabin

leave, if I had problems, I didn’t call the military, I called the first responders.

“And on that day, when everyone was running out of the buildings, they were running in.” Sabin has a friend who survived one of the tower attacks and Sabin didn’t know until years later.

“He never really told me until the 10-year anniversary,” he said. “That motivated this project even more.”

As cars slowed to look at the display, shouting well wishes, honking horns and parking to walk up, Sabin greeted them all, including Rosemary Kidd of Mentor and Darlene Novak of Willowick, who described the setting as “phenomenal.”

Sabin added he never gets tired of talking about the memorial.

“Never forgetting that terrible day is exactly the point,” he said. “It means too much to too many people. It’s bigger than all of us.”

The display, at 289 E. 326th St., will remain up until Sept. 13.

CHAD FELTON — THE NEWS-HERALD Included in Willowick resident Bill Sabin’s tribute to first responders and those who lost their lives on Sept. 11is a metal shaping of the then Lower Manhattan skyline, notably the Twin Towers.

CHAD FELTON — THE NEWS-HERALD Bill Sabin’s yearly 9/11memorial tribute — made up of 2,997flags, 50 firefighter helmets, first responder agency patches and other adornments — continues to gain people’s interest and appreciation.

CHAD FELTON — THE NEWS-HERALD Fifty firefighter helmets representing the 50 states piece together a Willowick 9/11tribute, which has continued to evolve since it was first started 8years ago.