Antonio Melgar said he couldn’t shake the nervousness that he felt Tuesday morning, standing in front of Highland Park’s City Hall, just blocks from where his wife and 11-year-old son were wounded in last year’s July 4 parade shooting. 

“It feels a bit strange. There’s a lot of people here, and you’re just standing here thinking it could happen again,” Melgar said. “That will always stay in your head. But here we are.” 

Melgar and his wife overcame that feeling, joining thousands of others at a solemn remembrance ceremony at City Hall marking one year since a shooter wreaked havoc on parade-goers, killing seven people and wounding dozens of others.

The community gathered to honor the memory those lost and to “reclaim” the parade route from the memory of the tragic incident. 

“This morning, we remember those who were murdered and those whose lives were forever altered. Our hearts will always ache for the families and friends who were left behind to grapple with the pain of their loss,” Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering said in her remarks at the ceremony. “There is nothing we can say that will fill the holes torn in their hearts or to heal those who were irreparably harmed.”

The ceremony was one of several events slated to commemorate the day. The community also gathered for a picnic. In the evening, Gary Sinise will hold a concert and a drone show will light up the sky in lieu of fireworks. City officials said over 5,000 people had registered to attend. 

Families of the victims sat next to each other at the ceremony, together in their grief, wiping away tears as Rotering addressed the crowd. Among them was Alejo Toledo, son of Nicolas Toledo, who was fatally shot in the incident. Alejo Toledo and his family wore black shirts with an image of their beloved Nicolas. 

“I carry my father in my heart. I have wonderful memories of him,” said Alejo Toledo. “My family and I are all here united. I want to say thank you for all the support people have given us. This is a very united city.”

Melgar said the last year has been rough on his family. His wife and son both recovered from wounds to their legs, but the emotional toll will linger for much longer. But he said they won’t let the incident stop them from enjoying the holiday. 

“I think we’re OK, we’re not scared, it’s been a year since that happened,” Melgar said. “It was very scary but we made it here.” 

Hundreds of attendees donned blue shirts with “We are Highland Park” or “Highland Park Strong” emblazoned on them, a small example of the way the community came together in the wake of the shooting. 

“We will never forget what happened here, but we, Highland Park, will not be defined by it. We come together today, united in remembrance and heartbreak, but also refusing to let fear and hatred win,” Rotering said.

The crowd held a minute of silence in honor of those who were killed. They were Toledo, Katie Goldstein, Irina McCarthy, Kevin Michael McCarthy, Stephen Straus, Jacki Lovi Sundheim and Eduardo Uvaldo. 

Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and Gov. J.B. Pritzker were in attendance. 

“My heart is heavy, and it aches for Highland Park today. As a member of Congress and proud Senator for the great State of Illinois, I will not stop seeking pathways to prevent the next heartbreaking shooting,” Durbin said in a statement.

“When families gathered in Highland Park to observe the Fourth of July last year, they were there to celebrate life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Duckworth said in a statement. “They woke up that morning eager to take pride in our nation and celebrate America at its best. Instead, they experienced the worst of it. One year later, I’m thinking of the families who lost loved ones and a community that is forever impacted by this tragedy. For the sake of the seven people we lost, and all gun violence survivors who’ve experienced the unimaginable, we must get weapons of war off our streets.” 

President Joe Biden in a statement applauded Illinois lawmakers for banning assault weapons — like the one used in the Highland Park shooting — in the state and urged federal lawmakers to follow their lead. 

“Their achievement will save lives. But it will not erase their grief. It will not bring back the seven Americans killed in Highland Park or heal the injuries and trauma that scores of others will continue to carry,” Biden said. “And as we have seen over the last few days, much more must be done in Illinois and across America to address the epidemic of gun violence that is tearing our communities apart.”

Tuesday morning, Rotering, gun control nonprofit Brady, 80-plus national and state organizations, and gun violence survivors released a letter urging a federal assault weapons ban. 

“We need to address the very real epidemic that this is to the public’s health and safety,” Rotering said Tuesday. “There’s no reason that we have to live this way. We know from our peer nations that no other country has this kind of experience, and we need to stop normalizing gun violence. This is not the way a civilized society lives. We deserve better.” 

Security for Tuesday’s events was thorough. Trucks blocked traffic from entering downtown Highland Park, officers with long guns could be seen on several rooftops, security combed through every bag at checkpoints and law enforcement was present on nearly every corner. 

The city didn’t hold a traditional parade this year, deciding instead to march as a community along the parade route to reclaim the space together. 

“Nobody wanted a parade. It was inappropriate, but it was important for us to say evil doesn’t win and this is our parade route. And this is our community that we are taking back,” Rotering told reporters ahead of the events. 

Susan Vanderhorst, 70, walked alongside thousands of her fellow community members along the parade route Tuesday. Even after a year, she said she could still picture the fire trucks flying down Central Avenue to help the wounded. Vanderhorst said it was a challenge to muster up the courage to attend the events and had hoped a parade would have taken place. 

“I only came because I think we need to have the parade again,” Vanderhorst said. “I just have a core fear in me that is really hard to shake, and I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for this event.” 

Vanderhorst said she didn’t want Robert Crimo III, the man charged with the shooting, to dictate how they live the rest of their lives. 

“I don’t want that guy to take away our freedoms, our children being able to enjoy a parade,” Vanderhorst said. “We cannot stop.”