Scott Magnuson of the local Red Knights chapter leads fellow motorcycle club members to the holding area for Valley City’s 125th anniversary parade held in June. (Nikki Laine Zinke/VCTR) 

By Brenda Gaarder
Valley City Times-Record

The Red Knights International Firefighters Motorcycle Club holds its second annual 9/11 memorial ride this Sunday, Sept. 14. This annual ride is a tribute to the 343 fightfighters who lost their lives during the 9/11 tragedies in 2001.
Participants can register at the Valley City Fire Hall just before 1 p.m. The ride will leave the station at 1 p.m. and return in the evening. Everyone is encouraged to join the ride.
Entry fee is $15 per driver and $10 for passengers. Registration includes a dinner at the Eagles following the ride. The club hopes the public will come out and watch the group depart and while they cross the Rainbow Bridge leaving Valley City. The Red Knights will ride through Fingal, Nome, Fort Ransom, Verona, LaMoure, Litchville, Sanborn and will end in Valley City at the Eagles Aerie.
Lance Coit, Red Knights International Firefighters Motorcycle Club ND Chapter 1 president, first stumbled on the notion of the club by accident. While searching for a patch design online, Coit found the Web site for the motorcycle club. Without knowing how much actual interest his fellow firefighters might have in the club, he brought it to their attention at a fire department meeting. The idea was well accepted, and the group assembled in September of 2006 with 15 members. The club is now up to 28 members, up 11 members from last year.
“We now have firefighters from Litchville, Nome, LaMoure, and Dazey, as well as Valley City, and any firefighters in the surrounding area are also welcome to join,” said Coit. "We're always looking for new members."
In the past year, five members of the group attended the Red Knights conference in Turner Valley, Alberta. "It's been nice getting to know guys from other fire departments," Coit said.
In order to join the motorcycle club, individuals must be an active or retired firefighter, have a motorcycle license, and own or have access to a motorcycle.
The international goal of the group is to promote safety and awareness for those effected by an emergency situation. The Red Knights will be using the money raided to create a fund for local residents that fall victim to unforseen tragedy. A percentage of the fund will be given to the person or family effected.

“We’re used to raising money to go towards new fire equipment. It feels good to raise money that we’re able to give back to the community,” Coit said. "We've donated everything we raised from last year's ride."
"We keep it local," said Red Knight Scott Magnuson.
In the last year, the Red Knights have donated money to six fire victims and two accident victims in the area.