'We don't want to give up to the fear': Grafton's annual Christmas parade continues less than a week after the Waukesha tragedy
When Sue Turowski was asked to lead the 41st annual Grafton Christmas parade, she cried.
"It's a true honor," she said.
The event was one of the first local parades to take place following the tragedy on Nov. 21 when an SUV plowed through the Waukesha Christmas Parade, killing six people and injuring dozens.
Turowski carried a sign that read "We stand with Waukesha." She's part of the American Legion Riders Grafton Rose-Harms Unit 355, and one of hundreds of people that marched in Saturday's parade. About a thousand onlookers watched the procession of bands, classic cars, floats and dance troops that has become a beloved tradition in the community.
Turowski said while she honored the victims from the Waukesha parade, it was important for her not to live in fear.
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"We can't stop living our lives because bad things happen," Turowski said.
The village of Grafton decided not to cancel the parade but instead added heightened security after other surrounding communities called off their parade plans in the wake of the tragedy.
Slava Krol, co-owner and vice president of K Komfort Heating and Cooling, has been part of the parade since 2017. For him, it was important to show support for the community. He decided to continue that tradition, especially since Covid-19 canceled last year's celebration.
At first, Mary Ellen Race was afraid to march on Saturday after the tragedy in Waukesha.
"I heard that they beefed up security and that (what happened in Waukesha) was an isolated incident," she said.
Grafton's parade started on Washington Street and and Sixth Avenue and continued south on Washington Street and ending on 7th Avenue and Wisconsin Avenue.
At every intersection, winter service vehicles from the cities of Grafton and Cedarburg and the Village of Saukville blocked the streets to prevent any cars from entering the parade route.
In a news release, Grafton officials said public safety at the parade was their main concern. They did not publicly release specific safety plans.
Kristin Ratatori, an instructor at Impact Dance Studio was in charge of corralling 34 girls, ages 6 to 18, to walk in the parade.
Her assertive tone coaxed them into orderly lines as they prepared to start marching late Saturday morning.
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"We are dancing today for those who cannot dance right now," she said. "(The girls) will all dance their little hearts out today."
At first, Margina Repinski, a grandmother of one of the dancers, was a bit concerned about the girls' safety. But she ultimately moved past it.
"We don't want to give up to the fear," she said.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Grafton Christmas parade 2021 remembers, honors Waukesha victims
