Fallen firefighters honored at annual memorial service in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee leaders gathered outside the fire department's headquarters on Wednesday, Oct. 9, honoring the Milwaukee firefighters that have made the ultimate sacrifice. 

The annual memorial service was attended this morning by the Milwaukee Fire Department honor guard, retired firefighters, families of the fallen and city leaders who honored the 144 names engraved on the memorial. 

Fire Chief Aaron Lipski took a moment during his speech to talk about fire paramedic Jeremiah Dunn, the last name added to the memorial. 

Dunn was a victim of suicide last year. 

After praising his hard work and the man Dunn was, Chief Lipski had a message to his brothers and sisters in the Milwaukee Fire Department. 

"JD left us last year. Victim of suicide. We have to say the word, we have to talk about this, folks. Because if we don't and we don't address what led to it, we risk it happening again," said Chief Lipski.  "We understand pain. It is what we deal in every day. We understand how to attempt to heal that pain in other people, how to ease that pain in other people. I think we fall short when it's time to heal it in our self. JD will leave that lesson for us. That will be on top of his incredible record of work, that will be the legacy JD leaves us -- how to heal each other and how to heal ourselves. For that, we are eternally grateful." 

The suicide and crisis lifeline has changed to 988. 

Resources are available for anyone who needs them 24/7 with no judgement.