'United We Rock': Waukesha celebrates with Independence Day parade
WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A sea of red, white and blue wasn't going to cool down the hot 4th of July temperatures experienced Tuesday in southeastern Wisconsin.
Waukesha's Jessica Buckhouse didn't mind.
"The excitement. You can just feel everybody's in a great mood," Buckhouse said, waiting for the city's Independence Day parade to start with her family. "You can just feel the positive energy."
Buckhouse was one of hundreds, if not thousands to pack the sidewalks on W. Main Street in downtown Waukesha to take in the 4th of July festivities in a community continuing to heal following the Christmas parade tragedy that claimed the lives of six people and injured dozens of others on November 21, 2021.
"This shows what positive things will do as opposed to anger," said Arthur Hodge, who was taking in the 4th of July parade with his wife, Nancy. "You're seeing the result of what positive things do and thinking of the good as opposed to the bad."
The crowd stood and clapped as Milwaukee's Dancing Grannies stepped by, their friends from New Orleans, the 610 Stompers, not far behind with an energy tough to replicate.
A BIG round of applause for the Dancing Grannies in the Waukesha Parade! @CBS58 pic.twitter.com/hGL3wV9wJb
— Emerson Lehmann (@lehmann_emerson) July 4, 2023
I think the @610Stompers have found their newest member in Waukesha! @CBS58 pic.twitter.com/kfpXjvwQXg
— Emerson Lehmann (@lehmann_emerson) July 4, 2023
The sense of patriotism and unity was one Buckhouse was proud to see.
"Watching everybody come back," Buckhouse said. "We knew several people who were in the parade, and just seeing the transformation, the coming together, the community is just great."