"In Her Boots" relates the history of women firefighters in Madison

The Madison Fire Department and the City of Madison IT Media Team collaborated on a feature-length documentary called In Her Boots.

Madison Fire Department Public Information Officer Cynthia Schuster and IT Media Team Digital Media Specialist Jesse Pool produced this look behind the scenes and on the front lines with past and present women of the Madison Fire Department.

The film became available for on-demand streaming on the Madison Fire Department YouTube channel and on the Madison City Channel website on March 1st to kick off Women’s History Month. It had a theatrical premiere at Madison College’s Mitby Theater as part of an International Women’s Day celebration on March 8th, when it also began playing on Madison City Channel on Spectrum, AT&T U-Verse, Roku, and Apple TV.

Oshkosh Media covers events honoring local first responders, remembering veterans

Attendees to the dedication of the Wall of Honor get a first look at the tribute housed in the Oshkosh Fire Department.

On December 7, the Oshkosh Fire Department dedicated its new Wall of Honor that pays tribute to both past and active members of the department who were/are veterans. Oshkosh Media, the city’s community media center, was there to record the touching ceremony. Some of those honored date back to the American Civil War. The wall also honors members of the department who died in the line of duty, and the 343 firefighters who perished in the 9/11 attacks in New York. “The Oshkosh Fire Department is profoundly grateful that our citizens, and especially local veteran’s groups, feel that it is a worthy and meaningful tribute to those who have served our country and community for generations to be acknowledged and remembered in this special way,” said Oshkosh Fire Department  Battalion Chief Andrew Jaeger. “We intend to have this Honor Wall be a visual reminder that our core value of service is the one of the foundational concepts for why we exist, and will continue to serve our citizens and visitors.” Click here to watch coverage of the event.

 On the same day, Oshkosh Media was on hand to capture a Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony hosted by the local AMVETS that marked the 81st anniversary of the attack on the American naval base in Hawaii. More than 200 Wisconsinites were present on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese military attacked Pearl Harbor. 56 people from our state were killed, including three who called Oshkosh home. 2,403 American service members and civilians were killed in the attack. The ceremony’s featured speaker was Wayne Amborn, a Vietnam War veteran whose father survived the attack on Pearl Harbor.   "The events at Pearl Harbor struck the American soul back in 1941. It's day that we as a nation cannot forget, especially because three area Sailors perished that day,” said Lt. Col. Mike Hert (Army, retired). “We were blessed to have the Oshkosh Media team to record the local Pearl Harbor Day ceremony. This ensured that some citizens still had the ability to observe the service and ensure those memories would be still be embraced in the year 2022. Thus passing along the stories of valor and sacrifice to the current generation. Many said that after December 7, 1941, that we as a country can never forget, we truly are fortunate to have the OM team actively engaged with the Veterans community to ensure that sacred loss of life is bonded to our very fabric." Click here to watch coverage of the event.