HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A year after seven people were killed and dozens were wounded as they gathered for the 4th of July parade, Highland Park leaders and residents aim to reclaim their downtown.
The city started the day with a ceremony to remember shooting victims: Katie Goldstein, Irina and Kevin McCarthy, Stephen Straus, Jacki Lovi Sund-heim, Nicolás Toledo and Eduardo Uvaldo.
Relatives of Toledo attended the ceremony, wearing pins with his picture on them.
"This morning, we remember those who were murdered and we remember those whose lives were forever altered," said Mayor Nancy Rotering. "Our hearts will always ache for the family and friends left behind to grapple with the pain of their loss."
In addition to speeches from Rotering, religious leaders and the city’s poet laureate, there was a minute of silence at the time the gunman started shooting.
Then those who pre-registered took part in a community walk along the parade route followed by a picnic and a drone show.
"The walk was an opportunity to exhale literally and figuratively as people walked west on Central Avenue, we got a sense of self back, sense that is our community and God willing starting tomorrow it will all be normal," said Highland Park resident David Macknin.
Gary from Arlington Heights said he has an idea of what Highland Park residents are going through after personally witnessing the Las Vegas concert shooting himself six years ago.
"Over the years the memory fades for people who weren't involved and one year for the Highland Park people is like yesterday and I thought it was important to come here and show support for them."
The city said it worked with 50 law enforcement agencies to plan and protect the roughly 5,000 people who registered for the events. Walkers passed plenty of police, barricades and large trucks.
Many of the people WBBM spoke to after the walk say they know people who weren’t comfortable returning to the Port Clinton area on the anniversary-saying it’s still too raw.
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