Waukesha Parade Memorial at Grede Park nearly complete

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- On Nov. 21, 2021, during the annual Waukesha Christmas Parade, a vehicle drove through the parade route, killing six and physically injuring more than 60 others, according to CBS 58 reporting.

Hundreds of others were left with mental and emotional scars as they witnessed the horrific events that unfolded.

As the community aims to honor the victims, a memorial nears completion at Grede Park. The memorial is planned to include benches, a tile wall made up of tiles created by the community, plaques for each of the deceased victims, as well as sculptures. 

“This is one step in the healing process," said Shawn Reilly, the Mayor of Waukesha. “I can’t say enough about all the people that have come together to help make this happen.”

Melissa Baxter. the President of the Waukesha County Community Foundation, says the organization received a 558-thousand-dollar state grant to be able to help fund the project, along with community donations.

“It’s a privilege to be down here and seeing the way it’s coming together," Baxter said. “It’s been amazing to see how people in Waukesha, outside of Waukesha, even other communities have come together and said they care.”

The memorial was funded by donations to the Waukesha County Community Foundation. The portal to donate is still active, and further donations will go toward maintenance to the future grounds. 

Joe Jorgensen, a Project Manager at VJS Construction, says the general contractor donated some of their services to be able to help build the memorial.

“As soon as we heard about the project, we contacted the city and just wanted to help in any way we could," Jorgensen said. “We’re probably just north of 70 percent complete with the overall project.”

The memorial will be dedicated at a ceremony on Nov. 21.