WAUKESHA, Wis. — The City of Waukesha dedicated a new Main Street memorial on Tuesday night.

The memorial is a symbol of the six lives that were tragically lost two years ago at the holiday parade: Virginia Sorenson, Leanna Owen, Tamara Durand, Jane Kulich, Jackson Sparks and Wilhelm Hospel.

Standing tall at Main Street’s five-point intersection, the monument is shaped like a heart, a structure of two ribbons that are woven together. The inscription written on it says, “Like ribbon woven, we are stronger together.” One ribbon represents the lives of the six victims, while the other represents all those who have been affected by the tragedy.

“It is a permanent symbol of love, passion, unity and support,” City of Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly said.

When you look through the heart, you see the spot where tragedy took place. Reilly said he hopes this memorial can provide some healing for those involved.

“It’s a symbol of our unity, our compassion, our strength to the entire community,” he said. “It’s a symbol to those who were hurting or are hurting, that we are all behind him,”

Loved ones of those who lost their lives were in attendance and shared how the community has stepped up over the last two years.

(Spectrum News 1/Megan Marshall)

“Our Waukesha strong community continues to amaze me as we still come to support each other in so many ways,” said Taylor Kulich, daughter of Jane Kulich. “That’s what I like to focus on. We can’t change what happened, but we can decide how we move forward.”

After the dedication, community members got the chance to engrave tiles at the Clarke Hotel. Those tiles will be a part of a larger memorial that is expected to be in Grede Park next year.

Fundraising is still needed for the larger memorial. To donate, click here.