WAUKESHA, Wis. — With heightened security measures in place, the Waukesha Police Department said the city hosted its safest parade ever Monday.

The Memorial Day Parade is the first of three large downtown parades for the year, followed by festivities on the Fourth of July and a Christmas celebration. Monday’s parade was the city’s first since a man plowed into the Christmas parade route last November, killing six and injuring dozens of others.

“We’re here for the love of country and all the sacrifices that our Armed Services did for us so we could come out and enjoy these parades,” Mike Payne said Monday alongside his children and extended family. 

Behind the scenes, security was top of mind for the first parade since the tragedy in November. New anti-vehicle barricades promise to stop the momentum of any vehicle attempting to access the parade route, and police and fire departments hoped their all-hands approach made everyone in Waukesha feel safe.

“I have goosebumps all over me,” Waukesha Police Captain Dan Baumann said. “It’s just so rewarding to see our community come together, to see smiling faces, to see people come out dressed up, showing their patriotism in our red, white and blue. It’s just awesome.”

This year’s parade was not a long one, but it was extra meaningful. Waukesha’s three high school bands marched as one, showing once again that in tragedy, celebration or commemoration, this is a city united.

“Everybody thought it was really important to get back out and enjoy the innocence of the parade and just the sense of community,” Payne said.

There was no chance the Payne family would miss the Memorial Day parade, and you can bet they will be back downtown bright and early on the Fourth of July.

Prosecutors charged Darrell Brooks Jr. with more than 80 counts, including six homicides, for his alleged role in the Christmas parade tragedy. His trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 3.