WAUKESHA, Wis. — This past November marked three years since the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy took place.
Many in the community said the recent tragic events in New Orleans are opening old wounds, but also providing an opportunity to lend a helping hand.
On a cold January day, just days after tragedy unfolded in New Orleans, Waukesha resident Sherry Olson stopped by to visit the Waukesha parade memorial to pay her respects.
“It’s just a sad situation, and now this thing in New Orleans just kind of rekindles the whole thing,” Olson said.
She said seeing the news of what happened on New Year’s Day reignited the fear and grief many in this community continue to battle.
She said her daughter was at the Waukesha parade during the tragedy and said what happened in New Orleans brought up memories from that tragic day.
“Right away, my daughter was like ‘It reminds me so much of the Waukesha parade,'” Olson said. “They refuse to go to a parade now. It is probably something they won’t do again."
Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly said he knows many in the community are still hurting. He even reached out to the mayor’s office in New Orleans offering condolences and some advice on steps they may not be thinking of in the midst of it all.
“Two things that I think are important to think about right away is trying to find a place for a temporary memorial,” Reilly said. “And also working with with nonprofits to be a conduit for donations for people who are injured."
He said while he hasn’t heard a response, he knows the office is busy and hopes to be able to be someone to lean on in the coming weeks and months.
The city of Waukesha also is continuing to offer free mental health services for those in need following the parade tragedy. Mental health professionals in the community said they have seen an increase in need over the holidays.
“We’re just thankful that we have the funding, that we are able to be there to meet the needs of this community and help other communities when they are faced with this devastation,” NAMI of Southeast Wisconsin Executive Director, Mary Madden said.
Madden said the resiliency centers across the country communicate and offer useful tools and resources to each other. She is hoping the Waukesha team will be able to assist in New Orleans in the coming weeks.