Honoring those who couldn't be here at the Highland Park 4th of July Parade

July 4, 2022.

My partner was preparing to walk in the Deerfield, Illinois July 4th parade. I dropped her off at the starting point. My plan was to go home, get something to eat and then go find a viewing spot to watch the parade. I was in the house less than five minutes when she called to tell me the parade was canceled. Something had happened in the town next door—Highland Park.

It didn't take long to find out that there had been a shooting at the Highland Park parade. Parades and holiday festivities were canceled throughout the area.

We spent the afternoon in lockdown—and not by choice. Our town and many others were in lockdown because the shooter was still at large.

A few hours later he was caught, returning from Wisconsin. He had planned on doing more shooting up there. Thankfully, he did not. He’s been locked up in jail since then while awaiting trial.

Yesterday was the second anniversary of that deadly day in Highland Park. Last year the city held a memorial walk to honor those who were killed and injured. This year would be the first actual parade.

My family lived in Highland Park for more than twenty years. All four of the Moore siblings graduated from Highland Park High School. Although none of us live there now, we feel a certain affinity for the city—for me more now as an adult than I did as a teen. I spend quite a bit of time there now—eating at their restaurants and attending concerts. For the last few weeks, I felt a need to come to this year’s parade.

I did feel some apprehension about doing this. I knew it was going to be ninety-nine percent safe, but it was that slim one percent that had me looking around. Plus, it’s good to do things that get you out of your comfort zone—even if, in reality, it isn't all that uncomfortable.

I planned to watch from a spot where a lot of the carnage took place. That turned into a no-go because the city changed the parade route to avoid that location. Probably a good thing. Too many bad memories, too many people still dealing with the events of that day.

So, I found a comfortable spot to watch a half-hour of politicians preening; while looking to gain some voters. By the way, why do they think playing Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” makes them look like a patriot? All it takes is a simple Google search to learn the meaning of the song. Sorry for the digression.

But the real story of the day is these people:

Katherine Goldstein, 64, of Highland Park

Irina McCarthy, 35 and her husband Kevin McCarthy, 37, of Highland Park

Stephen Straus, 88, of Highland Park

Jacquelyn “Jacki” Sundheim, 63, of Highland Park

Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78, of Morelos, Mexico

Eduardo Uvaldo, 69, of Waukegan

Those are the seven who were murdered that day. Forty-eight more were injured. Hopefully, yesterday’s parade is a small step in bringing some peace and normalcy back to these families and the entire community.

Two years ago a community that was struggling to make sense of what occurred came up with a motto. “Highland Park Strong” let the world know that the town was not going to be broken. It shows the strength, unity and compassion of the city. Two years later, you still see signs and bumper stickers with the motto.

Highland Park Strong—-ALWAYS!!