Shooter Attacks Fourth Of July Parade In Illinois

I have a friend running for school board in the fall, and I just walked with her in the local Fourth of July parade. I’ve been a bit of a hermit lately, between trying to meet my kids’ needs and get ready for my husband’s current deployment, so I’d forgotten to get into the spirit of Independence Day. I was pleasantly surprised to tune in to life and see the hundreds of flags the town puts along the highway and the entrance to neighborhoods every year. I love seeing the red, white, and blue decor on cars at any time, and nothing beats those typical, southern, giant trucks flying huge American flags. I love it, love it.

I’m smiling and shaking hands, kissing babies and tossing candy, and just being filled up with the American spirit. Then I get back home to put my feet up, and I see the news alert about a shooting at a parade in Illinois. Any shooting is bad, and any mass shooting is worse. But to see a parade much like the one I’d just left, to see that sense of community being targeting by a psychopath, really broke my heart. Six people died and dozens more were wounded when someone opened up on the Highland Park Fourth of July parade from a nearby rooftop. I don’t know the ages of those who died just yet, but at this point, regardless of what it is, every detail that emerges will be tragic. As far as I can tell, no one has been named as a suspect at this time, so a once calm and peaceful community is frantically searching for answers.

“Adrienne Drell, a former Sun-Times reporter, said she was sitting on a curb along Central Avenue watching the parade when she saw members of the Highland Park High School marching band start to run. “It was a quiet, peaceful, lovely morning, people were enjoying the parade,” Drell said. “Within seconds, to have that peacefulness suddenly ripped apart, it’s scary. You can’t go anywhere, you can’t find peace. I think we are falling apart.”

Unfortunately I think Drell is right: many people are falling apart. And we can’t afford to. I hate to rain negativity, but I think things will get worse before they get better, and we certainly won’t make it through that if we start giving up now. What we need now are ways to bring our communities together and try to be reminded of the good in people. If you know of resources to help those in Highland Park, Illinois, please share them. If you can do something to help with peace of mind in your own community, please do so. If you feel like we’re falling apart, that means it’s your duty to hold it together and remind others that we have something worth fighting for. If you’re the praying type, please send extra prayers to the families in Illinois today.