Waukesha parade memorial dedicated, city marks 4 years since attack

Waukesha parade memorial dedicated, 4 years since attack

The Waukesha community gathered for a remembrance ceremony on Friday, Nov. 21. A new memorial for the victims was dedicated at Grede Park.

WAUKESHA, Wis. - The Waukesha community gathered for a remembrance ceremony on Friday, marking four years since the Christmas parade attack.

‘Holding Love’

What we know:

Tamara Durand, Bill Hospel, Jane Kulich, Leanna Owen, Virginia Sorenson and Jackson Sparks died in the attack on Nov. 21, 2021. More than 60 other people were physically injured.

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A remembrance ceremony and dedication of a new memorial for the victims took place at Grede Park. The memorial features the "Holding Love" sculpture, designed by artist Carmen de la Paz.

de la Paz also came up with the Waukesha Strong tile project. Members of the community decorated clay tiles that were placed on the all along the Grede Park memorial last year. The artist aid she used some of the tiles that were broken in the process as a mosaic in the new memorial.

New Waukesha memorial dedicated

The Waukesha community dedicated a new memorial for the victims of the 2021 Christmas parade attack.

"I thought, ‘You know what? Waukesha’s heart is broken in pieces, and we are all missing a piece of our heart,’" de la Paz said. "I purposely decided to not put that piece in to represent those that we have lost and are missing from our heart."

The ceremony began at 4:39 p.m. to mark the exact time the Christmas parade attack began.

"Tonight I want to talk about grief not as something we get over but as something we live with, something we learn to carry," said Liz Schmidt with United for Waukesha Resiliency Center. "Over time the sharpness of pain may soften, we may find moments of peace of laughter of purpose, but we never forget. and we shouldn't."

Resiliency Center to close

What they're saying:

The United for Waukesha Resiliency Center is traveling around the city, delivering gifts for healing.

"We have purchased some books on resilience, on healing, trauma and different mental health themes," said Schmidt, a service navigator at the center. 

Waukesha community still healing 4 years later

The Waukesha community is showing resilience and strength ahead of a remembrance ceremony on Friday, marking four years since the Christmas parade attack. This as the United for Waukesha Resiliency Center is set to close.

Their first stop was the district attorney’s office. Jen Dunn, the victim services director, said her team and therapy dog, Pepper, are still in touch with the people affected. Leaders also delivered books to the School District of Waukesha. 

"The day this happened, there was one man who did this and there were hundreds and thousands who ran towards it," she said.

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"Trauma can crop up at any time – there’s no timeline," Schmidt said.

Schmidt said art therapy groups and trauma sensitive yoga still help dozens. Since the center opened in January 2023, the programs have been free to anyone the attack impacted. But that will soon change.

"Our federal grant is set to expire at the end of May," said Schmidt.

United for Waukesha Resiliency Center

What's next:

The center's doors will soon close for good, but Schmidt said, looking around Waukesha, it's had an impact.

"It’s been a blessing for me to be able to connect people with things that can help them," she said. "Little by little, people will find more comfort and healing, but it’s been a journey that I feel like, actually in some ways, brought the community together and stronger."

Center leaders have applied for new grants and hope to continue some existing programs, but the physical space will close in May.

United for Waukesha Resiliency Center will soon close, leaders hope to continue programs