The New Richmond Troubadours, under the direction of Doug Heflin, right, perform at a Sept. 11 memorial ceremony in New Richmond on Tuesday.

The New Richmond Troubadours, under the direction of Doug Heflin, right, perform at a Sept. 11 memorial ceremony in New Richmond on Tuesday.
Residents in New Richmond remembered Sept. 11 during a memorial ceremony at the bandstand Tuesday evening.

Town Crier Bill Knepp began the ceremony by discussing how Sept. 11 affected him and how he is afraid that the day will be forgotten as the years go by, especially for the the younger generations.

Knepp encouraged residents to continue to remember Sept. 11 and had members of the New Richmond Troubadours, a high school choir group, make a promise to never forget.

“We shall never forget this day Sept. 11 as long as we shall live,” Knepp said.

The New Richmond Troubadours performed several patriotic songs during the memorial ceremony and John Hale also performed several songs.

Ralph Shepherd, event organizer, called all veterans and police, fire and EMS workers up to the stage to honor them for their service.

New Richmond Fire Chief Mark Baird spoke about those who served on Sept. 11 and the days after.

“There were many heroes that day,” Baird said. “A lot of them were the people who worked in the towers and pentagon who sacrificed their lives to save others.”

Baird also encouraged residents to not let Sept. 11 pass by as just another day.

“I would like to echo that which was expressed earlier about not forgetting,” Baird said.

Residents took a moment of silence to remember those who died during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and Tim Feldkamp and Gerald Schmidt placed a wreath on the memorial in New Richmond.

Debbie Deters, a New Richmond resident whose daughter is a member of the Troubadours, said the ceremony was meaningful.

“It was a very moving ceremony,” Deters said. “It lets us know we should not let it be forgotten.”

Jean Adams, a New Richmond resident and veteran, said she makes an effort to come to all memorial ceremonies in New Richmond.

She said it is important to remember those who gave their lives, and it is also important to remember the freedoms citizens have in the United States.

“It’s a day to remember,” Adams said about Sept. 11. “I was working and I remember seeing it on T.V. I think it is important for everyone to remember.”

The memorial ceremony for Sept. 11 in New Richmond began the year the terrorist attacks occurred and the village has held the ceremony on Sept. 11 every year since 2001.