VIDEO: A "Healing Ink" and "United for Waukesha Resiliency Center" partnership provided tattoos for first responders who rushed to help during the 2021 Christmas parade attack, helping them process their pain through permanent ink.
Organizers said they hope the tattoos for 30 first responders over two days will help those on the front lines continue to heal.
After 15 years as a tattoo artist, Matty Stolzenburg said he realizes his job is more than just ink.
"People kind of use us as therapy," he said. "We do a lot of talking."
On Wednesday, Sept. 27, his office was inside Waukesha’s Raised Grain Brewery.
Stolzenburg was one of 16 volunteers helping first responders process their pain.
"I just remember the shouting on the radio, trying to figure out what was going on," said Ryan-ann Carpenter. "911 just blew up."