Dancing Grannies in Franklin parade, honor lives lost in Waukesha
FRANKLIN, Wis. - The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies returned Saturday, Dec. 4 – marching in the Franklin Christmas parade.
The return came nearly two weeks after the group lost four members in the Nov. 21 Waukesha parade attack.
"We’re moving forward because that’s what they would want us to do," said Dancing Granny Jan Kwiatkowski.
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Walking arm-in-arm, the Dancing Grannies marched through Franklin.
"It says something about their will and what they are all about," Franklin resident Jim Andrus.
Sweatshirt honors Milwaukee Dancing Grannies members killed in Waukesha parade attack
The Dancing Grannies wore new sweatshirts dedicated to the four who are no longer with them: Leanna Owen, Tamara Durand, Viginia Sorenson and Wilheim Hospel. They were among the six people killed when an SUV drove through the Waukesha parade.
"When I looked, all I saw was bodies in the street. It took me a couple minutes to kind of get my head together because I couldn’t believe what I was seeing," said Dancing Granny Laura Thein.
Thein said the SUV missed her by only a few feet. Now, she puts one foot in front of the other to honor her friends.
"We are going to get through this. We are very strong women, and with the strength of each other we will get through it," Thein said.
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Support from all over the world is inspiring them to keep dancing.
"Our goal is to build up the Dancing Grannies to be bigger and better than ever," said Thein
The Dancing Grannies said they plan to meet in January to plan for a big return in 2022.
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