Never Forget: Ceremony held in Milwaukee to honor the fallen 18 years after 9/11 attacks

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Eighteen years after the attacks on September 11, first responders, local leaders, and the community gathered in Milwaukee to make sure the day is never forgotten. 

Vietnam veteran Joe Campbell was one of the many honoring those who died on September 11, 2001 at a ceremony at the Milwaukee County War Memorial on Wednesday.  

"It's a very sad and unfortunate part of our history of what can happen and what did happen and what could happen again," Campbell said. 

A steel beam that once helped hold up the Twin Towers was given to the Milwaukee County War Museum in 2011, days before the first 9/11 Memorial Ceremony was held at the Milwaukee County War Memorial. 

Campbell was one of the men responsible for making sure the beam arrived from New York in time for the somber anniversary. 

"It's a piece of history I wish we didn't have to have, but because we did have it, is that we'll never forget and hopefully we'll never forget," Campbell said. 

"Never Forget" was the message echoed by Milwaukee-area leaders who spoke at Wednesday's ceremony. 

"Today it's worth remembering the people who lost their lives. All the first responders who were running into the towers when others were running out and they do that around the country every single day," said Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele. 

"We do have to remember and we will remember those first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice and we'll remember those individuals who were just trying to go to work that day who lost their lives because of this horrific act," Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said. 

As part of the ceremony, wreaths were placed in a pond at the Milwaukee County War Memorial in honor of first responders.