HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (CBS) -- Tuesday marks one year since the mass shooting in Highland Park killed seven people and left dozens injured.
The resiliency in Highland Park is helping them all heal, as we near the one-year remembrance of that tragedy.
"We are Highland Park, it's about people coming together. To support each other, to reflect on the past, and also be together as we continue to move forward," said Highland Park resident Ghida Neukirch.
The day began with a memorial and moment of silence for the seven victims outside City Hall at 10:00 a.m.
"After that memorial, we are, as a community, walking to reclaim the parade route. It felt to me that we needed a way to take our grief and move forward in a way that will give us, and our children in particular, the chance to experience the Fourth of July again in the future," said Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering.
After the walk, there will be a picnic. And in the evening, a concert by Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band is followed by a drone light show.
Concert, drone show cap solemn July 4th for Highland Park one year after parade shooting
It was a day of unity and remembrance in Highland Park, marking one year since a mass shooting killed seven people and wounded dozens more.
On Tuesday, Highland Park dedicated themselves to reclaiming their community and embodying the strength and resilience that defines them.
Following a solemn memorial ceremony, community walk, and picnic earlier in the day, the community wrapped up the night with a concert and a dazzling drone show in lieu of a fireworks display.
They honored the lives taken, but also focused on the power of healing and hope, proving that even amidst unimaginable pain, resilience can shine bright.
Actor Gary Sinise honors local vets with a BBQ, special concert in Highland Park
Actor Gary Sinise is performing with his band, as part of a concert honoring those in Highland Park.
Hours ago, Sinise paid tribute to other heroes: Local veterans. And he made history in the process.
CBS 2's Andrew Ramos was there.
A July Fourth cookout with all the trimmings. The guests of honor: More than 150 local veterans, all who served and sacrificed.
Paying them a surprise visit at the Edward Hines Jr. VA hospital -- none other than actor and Illinois native - Gary Sinise.
The Gary Sinise Foundation has supported veterans, first responders, and Gold Star families across the country since 2011, and hosted the "Serving Heroes" event, shining a light on the community that some say has been underserved.
Highland Park remembers together with parade, picnic
More than 2,200 people came together in Highland Park for a community walk to mark one year since the Fourth of July parade shooting that irrevocably changed thousands of lives.
The participants marched the same route as last year's parade, letting the community reclaim it, and move forward in a way that will give them a chance to experience the Fourth of July again in the future.
"I think it shows the power of positive living and the power of positive thinking," said attendee Dan Mendelson.
Gary Sinise's Lt. Dan Band joins Highland Park July 4th events
After Tuesday's memorial and march, hundreds of people gathered at Sunset Woods Park for a Fourth of July picnic.
There was food, games, and music. The idea was to promote unity and help people learn to celebrate safely again. Residents said it's important to share and connect with other members of the community.
Later in Highland Park, a sold-out concert with Highland Park High School grad Gary Sinise will take the stage with the Lt. Dan Band.
Hundreds march in Highland Park on July 4th to heal, create a new tradition
More than 2,200 people came together in Highland Park for a community walk to mark one year since the Fourth of July parade shooting that irrevocably changed thousands of lives.
The participants marched the same route as last year's parade, letting the community reclaim it, and move forward in a way that will give them a chance to experience the Fourth of July again in the future.
That march ended with a picnic in Sunset Woods Park. CBS 2's Tara Molina spent the holiday with the crowd and heard from city leaders who spoke about the importance of taking the community back and moving forward.
A community effort led to the march this Fourth of July with hundreds joining to create new traditions and celebrate together.
"One year ago we were shaken to our core"
It was an emotional 4th of July for the Highland Park community, marking one year since a gunman killed seven people and injured dozens more at the annual parade.
The city spent Tuesday remembering and moving forward.
This has not been a traditional 4th of July in Highland Park, and local leaders said it couldn't be after the tragedy that tore through their community last year.
The goal for this day was to begin healing, and for the community to reclaim that parade route.
Highland Park's 4th of July started with song; the community joining together to sing the national anthem, and to stand as one.
"One year ago we were shaken to our core," said Mayor Nancy Rotering, standing alongside faith leaders to deliver a message of resilience, saying a traditional parade would not be appropriate on this day.
Thousands take part in community walk
Highland Park officials felt a parade today would have been inappropriate.
Instead, thousands of people took part in a community walk to take back their parade route. Officials said about 2,200 people attended the memorial service and walk on Tuesday.
Amazing Grace
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (CBS) -- Once again, it is hard to count the number of times, a service closes with "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipe.
We have heard this so often at services for those who have been killed by gun violence.
Today's memorial was 43 minutes with remarks from the mayor and several faith leaders. Hundreds of people, wearing 'We Are HP" and "HP Strong" shirts, attended.
"My suspicion is that if this is like wounds of the past, it will heal but it will leave a scar," said Pastor Quincy Worthington, of Highland Park Presbyterian Church.
The town now prepares for a community walk along the parade route.
Security remains very tight, and people needed to register in advance to attend today's events.
"Lives were forever altered''
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill (CBS) -- The memorial service has begun with remarks from Highland Park Mayor Nancy Roetering, who makes a point of not naming the man charged with the mass shooting.
"This morning, we remember those who were murdered and those whose lives were forever altered," she said.
Roetering then somberly read off the name of each one of the seven people who died that day.
Katie Goldstein, 64
Irina McCarthy, 35
Kevin McCarthy, 37
Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63
Stephen Straus, 88
Nicolas Toledo, 78.
Eduardo Uvaldo, 69.
One minute, after firing 83 rounds, is all it took a single individual to alter the lives of so many people, Roetering told the crowd assembled to remember and continue to heal.
Then, a moment of silence.
"One year ago we were shaken to our core," Roetering said. "We went through waves of grief and fear. In the face of adversity, we continue to move forward with purpose."
"We will never forget what happened here."
Hatred and fear will not win, she said.
Highland Park mayor: 'Evil doesn't win'
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (CBS) -- Mayor Nancy Roetering told reporters in the moments before marking the moment of the mass shooting that "evil doesn't win and this is our parade route and our community taking our parade route back."
She spoke of third-graders visiting her office this year, asking if they could ever celebrate a Fourth of July again.
It broke her heart, she said.
Officials said 5,000 people have registered for the events, both locals and people from out of state.
The day includes a walk along the parade route and a community picnic.
"We are a blend of emotions, as you can imagine," Roetering said. "We were all impacted by this parade personally.
"There is no reason one act of cowardice and hate should take away the joy of this community."
No parade today, but march to reclaim the route
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (CBS) -- Security is tight for today's remembrance, one year after a mass shooting on July 4.
There will be no parade but the events scheduled are all about finding a path forward.
"Our hope is, we want to put ourselves in a position to help people find their path forward," Police Chief Lou Jogmen said.
"You know, the strongest steel goes through the hottest fire. So there's no doubt that our community is enduring this together, and processing it together and moving forward together."
"My whole family was in that parade," said Fire Chief Joe Schrage.
"I know they felt the trauma of it and saw things that day that I never want them to see again."
Highland Park survivor Cooper Roberts throws out first pitch at Cubs-Brewers game
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Cooper Roberts, the boy who was paralyzed from the waist down in the July 4 mass shooting in Highland Park last year, threw out the first pitch at the Cubs game against the Brewers in Milwaukee on Monday.
The Brewers are Cooper's favorite baseball team, and they sent him a special care package last year while he was recovering at the hospital – including a jersey with his name on it.
Cooper, now 9 years old, was recognized on the field at American Family Field before the Brewers hosted the Cubs on Monday, along with other families affected by the shooting.
How the FBI and others helped survivors in Highland Park cope after mass shooting
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (CBS) -- For survivors of last year's deadly mass shooting at the July 4th parade in Highland Park, the pain was not just physical, and once again this community has shown its strength and resilience to help survivors move forward.
"If you've seen one mass casualty, you've seen one. Every mass casualty that happens across the country is unique in certain ways," said Amanda Zarobsky, a victim specialist in the Chicago division of the FBI.
As Highland Park police officers and firefighters rushed to the July 4th parade shooting scene, the call for help went out to emergency teams around the state and across the country. They responded, bringing their own special set of skills to help the victims.
Highland Park officials reflect on one-year remembrance of parade shooting
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (CBS) – In the days, weeks, and months after the shooting, we shared their stories and struggles.
Now, one year later, as they move forward, it's important to also remember and reflect.
CBS 2's Joe Donlon sat down with Highland Park Police Chief Lou Jogmen, Fire Chief Joe Schrage, and President of North Shore University HealthSystem Gabrielle Cummings as they recall the events following the parade shooting.
A family that survived the Highland Park shooting tries to move forward one year later
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (CBS) – Among the survivors of last year's Highland Park Fourth of July shooting were Mike and Marcia Moran.
Their daughter was getting ready to leave for college last year when she got the call her parents were shot but survived. She wrote a letter to the community about her fear, anxiety, and change.
That started the family's first chapter toward closure. CBS 2's Marissa Perlman had the chance to sit down with them again.
Calls for changes to gun laws came within hours of Highland Park mass shooting
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (CBS) -- Within hours of the mass shooting at the July 4th parade in Highland Park last year, new seeds of change were planted with survivors, residents, and lawmakers.
Over the last year, those seeds of change have sprouted into measurable transformations at the state level.
As CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey reported, the Illinois assault weapons ban was the most notable and most controversial change spurred by the mass shooting. But there have been other updates, and there will likely be more to come.
Cooper Roberts tackling life head-on one year after shooting
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (CBS) -- Cooper Roberts was left paralyzed by the shooting, which also injured his mother and twin brother Luke.
Cooper and Luke celebrated their ninth birthday this week and just finished third grade. Their mother said Cooper has taken up swimming and is just tackling life head-on.
Comfort dogs from Lutheran Church Charities return to Highland Park
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (CBS) -- The Lutheran Church Charities Comfort Dogs were here giving support shortly after the shooting, and they'll be back on July 4.
CBS 2 spoke with Reverand Chris Singer, President and CEO of Lutheran Church Charities, and Jenni Hoffmeyer, who was joined by her dog Tobias.
Son remembers Highland Park man, 88, killed at Fourth of July parade shooting
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (CBS) -- Stephen Straus went to the Highland Park parade every year.
His son tells CBS 2's Charlie De Mar, that while life goes on, there's not a day that goes by he doesn't think about his father or that day.
