LCC K-9 Ministry Teams Return to Highland Park to Bring Comfort to Community on the First Anniversary of Independence Day Parade Mass Shooting

Remembrance and Healing

Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog® Ministry was invited by the City of Highland Park to return to Highland Park, Illinois, on Tuesday, July 4, to be present with the community for the one-year anniversary of the Independence Day Parade mass shooting that occurred on July 4, 2022, roughly fifteen minutes after the parade had started. Seven people were killed and forty-eight others were wounded.

Rev. Chris Singer, LCC President/CEO, James Casner, Assistant LCC K-9 Crisis Response Coordinator, and the following LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams were present throughout Highland Park on July 4 for a day of remembrance and healing:

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Asher (Faith - Lake Forest, Illinois), Charity (Brookfield - Brookfield, Wisconsin), Eunice (LCC Staff), Mary (St. Paul's - Janesville, Wisconsin), Michael (LCC Staff), Myra (St. Andrews - Park Ridge, Illinois), Samson (Zion - Marengo, Illinois), Tobias (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, Illinois), and LCC Comfort Dogs In Training Galilee and Zacchaeus and their handlers.

Last year on the same day, Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Ministry (HMC) responded to the Independence Day Parade mass shooting in Highland Park, providing support to the shocked and hurting community.

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"We Are Highland Park"
The Fourth of July looked much different in Highland Park this time around as the community remembered those who lost their lives during last year’s parade and the impact they made. Instead of the usual parade, there was a community walk, preceded by a remembrance ceremony at Highland Park City Hall and other commemorations.

LCC's K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Ministry never charge those we serve as we bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.
 
Thank you for being a part of the Mercy and Compassion Ministry of Lutheran Church Charities.

WE REMEMBER

Katherine Goldstein, 64Irina McCarthy, 35
Kevin McCarthy, 37
Stephen Straus, 88
Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63
Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78
Eduardo Uvaldo, 69

DONATE — LCC K-9 TRAVEL FUND

DONATE — HEARTS OF MERCY & COMPASSION