"They're not forgotten:" Milwaukee authorities join forces and pay tribute to 9/11 victims



MILWAUKEE -- It's the first of its kind in the Milwaukee area. Several police and fire departments have joined together to throw a major event aimed at honoring those who died in the 9/11 attacks. But the event is also about remembering the military conflicts that followed.

Milwaukee authorities join forces and pay tribute to 9/11 victims



September 11th is often a day filled with memorials and tributes to those who lose their lives on this day in 2001, but rarely does Milwaukee see an event so large as this.

"We want to offer an absolutely gorgeous atmosphere for people to come down here and just simply reflect and remember and observe and put some names to the faces of the lost," said Milwaukee Fire Department Deputy Chief Aaron Lipski.

Milwaukee authorities join forces and pay tribute to 9/11 victims



This year, many of the police and fire agencies from the greater Milwaukee area are joining forces with the non-profit organization On Purpose Journey, to offer an evening of performances, tributes and a space for reflection.

"If we don't do it, who will? If we leave it for somebody else to do it, it might never get done and all of those families, over 600 people being honored here tonight, they're going to know that they're not forgotten," said On Purpose Journey Founder, Mollie Manhattan.

In addition to appearances by local musicians, the group planned to read the names of the protective service members and soldiers who died in the 9/11 attacks, as well as the Wisconsin born members of the armed forces who have died in the ensuing conflicts.

It's all part of an effort to ensure the memories of their sacrifices are not forgotten.

"If we don't teach that history, if we don't share our personal observations of what it was like to live during that time, they will most definitely be lost. It's almost our responsibility to feed that forward," said Chief Lipski.

Milwaukee authorities join forces and pay tribute to 9/11 victims



This is the first time all of these groups came together to offer the standing for the fallen event -- they hope to continue it in the coming years.

If you want to know more about the non-profit On Purpose Journey, CLICK HERE.