An annual tribute in honor of deceased Iowa firefighters is coming up, and one area family will be remembering a loved one whose name is being added to a memorial in their honor.

The Iowa Firefighters Memorial in Coralville will host its 25th Annual Memorial Service on Sunday, June 9th. Each year, the names of lost firefighters is added to the Memorial Wall, and Michael Hoch will be among them.

Hoch was a firefighter in Melcher-Dallas, and his family will be on hand to see his name put up in tribute; his daughter Shantell Hoch tells KNIA/KRLS News he was a hero to them, and they are pleased to know he will be honored alongside his colleagues.

“He served on our volunteer department for over 50 years; it was his second home, his second family, and for us it’s a big honor to know that his name’s going to be on this wall and that this memory is going to be out there for him,” she says.

Wreaths will be placed at the Memorial Wall as part of the tribute, as will a set of firefighter gear to recognize how each spent their lives doing something they were dedicated to.

The ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. A candlelight service will also be held the night before at dusk, around 9:00 p.m.