Families remember heroic father, son and neighbor on 1-year anniversary of Kinnickinnic River drownings
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It has been one year since a heroic father, his son and their kind-hearted neighbor drowned in a drainage ditch of the Kinnickinnic River.
On Tuesday, the families marked the sad anniversary doing what they're done every day since the accident -- staying close to each other.
One year later, smiles have replaced the tears and fear of June 13, 2022.
"To have a family who stay connected, especially around this, that's very beautiful," said Ashraf Yassin, Zakaria's nephew.
Zakaria Gonumeah, Rashidullah Abdul Hashim and his son, Arman, are not far from thoughts, but on the one-year anniversary of the accident that took their lives, focus is on the future.
A graduation ceremony for a family member allowed time on this June 13 for happy moments.
"To not having him here. It still feels like he's still here with us no, matter how hard it is, we still think about him and pray about him from time to time. And we had a great time with him all the time. There's no sad time with him. The only sad memories I have of him was losing him," said Yassin.
June 13, 2022, a quick-moving storm left the drainage ditch looking like a raging river near 27th and Loomis. It's where 10-year-old Arman was swept in chasing after his ball, and his father, Rashidullah and their good-hearted neighbor, Zakaria, tried to rescue him.
Since the 2022 accident, there's been a big push to prevent another tragedy here.
"That was not even close to the worst day of my life since I've been alderman," said Milwaukee Alderman Scott Spiker, District 13.
Touched by his constituents' loss, Ald. Spiker took part in conversations ultimately leading to some four miles of fencing and warning signs now in areas where concrete lining still presents a danger.
"MMSD put their money where their mouth was. They put up some extensive fencing to create a barrier. It is a lot of fencing. It goes all the way from north of where the tragedy occurred all the way south to 5th, 6th and Armour," said Ald. Spiker.
"My mom just saying 'thank you' to the city for putting the fence up and protecting the neighborhood even more," said Yassin.
Two families who suffered greatly, through it all, staying close and praying for the safety of others.