Newton Fire Department holds annual 9/11 memorial ceremony

NEWTON, Iowa —

The Newton Fire Department held its annual 9/11 memorial ceremony, continuing a tradition that has lasted for over two decades to honor the victims and heroes of the attacks.

Fire Chief Jarrod Wellik, who has participated in the event 15 times, said the significance of the ceremony grows each year.

“This is one that’s huge in the fire service, because there were 343 firefighters killed that day, more than any other day in history,” Wellik said.

The impact of the attacks is felt across the nation, but Newton experienced a particularly personal loss. James Cleere was one of eight Iowans killed on 9/11.

At a different memorial service in Des Moines, Cleere’s brother and sister-in-law say their family has felt it every day of the last 25 years.

“All they found was his name tag. We’ve never found him,” Jil Proctor told KCCI’s Beau Bowman.

When asked if her family still had hope of seeing him again?

“Someday maybe. But I don’t know. I mean, it’s been 25 years,” she said.

The passage of time has brought a new generation to the forefront, many of whom do not have personal memories of the attacks.

“Every year, you know, you’re further away from it. Every year you become the older person in the department. And today, many of the young men that are serving here are younger than my youngest child,” Wellik said.

Despite the years that have passed, the commitment to remembering the events of 9/11 remains steadfast.

“It’s just, it’s too easy. The world moves so fast. It’s easy to forget the events that happen,” Wellik said. “And so we vowed to never forget.”

The ceremony continues to inspire younger generations to carry on the tradition of honoring the fallen.