Tag: Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy

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Two year anniversary of Waukesha Christmas Parade Tragedy

I painted some rocks in honor of our two year anniversary.

Waukesha Strong rocks

I bought a cookie cutter shaped like the state just for these rocks. I placed them around downtown Waukesha yesterday afternoon.

Today was the day of the dedication ceremony of our five points memorial. Here is a picture from the day before.

I was pleased to see how many people came and that Governor Evers came and spoke.

After the ceremony, I went over to the hotel across the street and made a tile for the Grede Park Memorial.

The six tears are for the six people who died. It bothers me that I can remember who killed them but can’t remember their names.

Afterwards, I attempted to take a picture of the new memorial at five points.

The person in white was a lady reporter while the man in black was another reporter. I was trying to get the picture without interrupting them. This image reminds me of when there was more press on the street than residents.

On Thanksgiving, I took some more pictures of the memorial. I found a bouquet and put it a little higher on it for the picture.

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Thanksgiving for the world’s support

Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy. What comes to your mind when you read those words?

At first, it makes me think of my night of praying while looking towards Main Street. Listening to a police scanner app on my phone while doing dishes. Wondering Main Street and seeing colored markings on the road and a bunch of press people.

Now, the words make me think of additional memories. News stories of people sheltering in local businesses. People from ALL fifty states donating to the victim’s fund. Pictures of long lines at fund raisers. Encouraging messages in the Waukesha Strong Facebook group from people living in other states and countries. Painted rocks sent to Waukesha A crowd of Waukesha residents singing “Lean on Me” at Cutler Park by the library. The crowd singing “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” five minutes before this year’s Christmas parade. The beautiful ornaments that people designed and made to help fund raise for the victims and now the memorial.

Crowd singing at our parade.
This rock was sent to Waukesha from a lady living in New Jersey.

While I am not thankful that the tragedy happened, I am grateful for the amazing response from my fellow Waukesha residents, Americans and citizens of other countries. Thank you for your support. I am so overwhelmed by the amazing response. I thought people would forget us a few weeks afterwards.

“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.” Joseph Addison

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Lean on Me: Waukesha Strong

I attended my city’s one year anniversary gathering for the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy on November 21, 2022. The video starts with no sound but has sound later. At the end, an artist sand “Lean on Me.” She invited us to sing along.

I decided to paint some rocks with the words “Lean on Me” and “Waukesha Strong.”

I planned to leave them along the route for our Christmas parade. I have left my 15 rocks along our parade route. I also put some sidewalk chalk messages out for people to see. It is my prayer that this will encourage someone in my community.

While I was placing my painted rocks, I found someone else’s rock.

I posted pictures of this rock on the Waukesha County Rocks group that I am a member. The artist is not from Waukesha. She is from New Jersey and sent them to Waukesha as her way to send kindness into our city. Then, a local hid them.

This is one example of people outside of the state or country reaching out to my community. I have read that people sent donations to my community’s victim fund. Judge Dorow received fan mail from all over. I joined a Facebook group called “Waukesha Strong” and assumed that it would contain only Waukesha or Wisconsin residents. But, I was surprised to see empathetic statements from all over the country and world. TMJ4 has been airing Waukesha events such as our parade and the one year anniversary ceremony. The comments of support showed up there too. Thank you to all who have expressed for my community. I am so shocked and overwhelmed by the support.

I hope the people who lost someone or was present at the parade last year feels this massive outpouring of support.

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One year anniversary of the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy

Christmas parade memorial mural in downtown Waukesha

With the one year anniversary of the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy, I have been thinking a lot about that day, the Brooks trial and the past year.

I took a picture of the new mural. It has six butterflies and six flowers for the number of people who died on or after November 21, 2021 due to this event. The city has scheduled an anniversary event on November 21st at Veterans Park at 4:39 PM. They are also working on a parade memorial for Grede Park and Main Street.

I have decided to remember the event by painting the back of my Star of Hope with a new design. I hope to bring it to our Christmas parade in December. I am also working on a collection of rocks to put out around downtown Waukesha. I saw some others on Facebook who are planning on placing painted rocks too.

What are you planning on doing to remember the pain that we all here in Waukesha city have experienced? How is your recovery coming along?