ST. PAUL, Minn. -- As St. Paul firefighters stood facing retired Deputy Fire Chief Tom McDonough, he told them how important their support is for him and his family. Wednesday marked two years since the death of his son, firefighter Tommy McDonough.
“It means so much to us that the department hasn’t forgotten,” McDonough said, his voice emotional as firefighters nodded their heads. “And you not only haven’t forgotten, but you’re moving forward — all the type of things that would help prevent this from happening to somebody … again.”
They were gathered for the McDonough Memorial Workout of the Day, “The Tommy,” which was designed to remember the fallen firefighter, and to bring awareness to the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder on first responders and to suicide prevention. McDonough, 28, died by suicide.
