WAUKESHA, Wis. — It’s been almost a year since the tragedy of the Waukesha Christmas parade.
Since then, the Waukesha community has stepped up to help victims, families and other community members.
Now that Darrell Brooks Jr. has been sentenced, some say they’re hopeful Waukesha can now start the next phase of healing.
Tami Evanoff is the owner of Burlap and Lace Marketplace on Main Street in Waukesha.
She said the community’s support has been outstanding, but with the parade anniversary right around the corner, emotions are all over the place.
“This week is going to be tough,” said Evanoff.
Evanoff said she thinks the suspect got what he deserved, but she also knows the healing won’t happen overnight.
“It’s going to take time,” she said. “But the community we’re in… it’s going to be done with lots of love.”
With the upcoming parade, she wants to make sure she can do anything to make families feel safe.
“We’ll have a quiet place for people to go if they get overwhelmed or they just need to take a second,” said Evanoff. “They can have a seat and just chill for a little bit.”
Kathy Janick was shopping for some Christmas goodies for her grandchildren on Thursday.
She wanted to get something extra special for her grandson, Erick Tiegs. He was a member of the Waukesha South marching band and one of the many people hurt at the Christmas parade.
“I get the shivers,” she said. “He pitches for baseball and every time I see him on the field, he’s a miracle.”
She said the family feels a sense of relief and feels that justice has been served.
“There was no doubt in any of our minds that he was 100% guilty for what he did,” said Janick.
She’s hopeful her grandson and her family can continue to take each day, one at a time.
“It’s hard, but day by day is how you have to live,” she said.
This year’s Christmas parade will be a time of reflection, remembrance and holiday joy.