As America celebrates its Independence. Highland Park, tonight, reclaiming the right to celebrate the fourth without fear.

I don't want the events of two years ago to have had an effect on the spirit of the community. We're still standing. We still love this town.

Hundreds today, lining the streets of this quiet Chicago suburb for the first Independence Day parade in two years. This after in 2022, investigators said a lone gunman perched on a rooftop above the route and opened fire on parade goers, killing seven and wound nearly 50. Our team's on the ground for days as people tried to process the pain. How are your firefighters and how are your officers doing? They're devastated. This is our community. This morning, a Remembrance ceremony.

I think July fourth is always going to be a day of mixed emotion.

City officials working with federal authorities and the Department of Justice implementing full security led by Highland Park Police, calling today Trauma Informed and clarifying why they felt the need to bring this parade back.

I also feel like we have an obligation to this community's children, in particular. In the aftermath of July fourth, 2022, one of the third graders who came through City Hall asked me, Do we ever get to celebrate the fourth of July again? And I said, Absolutely. So today is that first step.

Many along the parade route this year, survivors.

We were sitting seen across the street from the shooter. If he had gone straight across instead of at an angle, we wouldn't be here.

Hazel and Bud Herzog have been coming to the parade for years. They were here as the horror unfolded two years ago, escaping through a coffee shop. But despite what they witnessed, they were back out here today. Was there any, even just a momentary hesitation or nerves, or maybe this isn't a good idea?

No. No.

I'm a little apprehensive. I'm looking up at this building behind you, and it's a little bit apprehensive, but I think it'll be fine. It's a different route. It's a different situation.

They have a lot of security.

A lot of security. So I think it'll be fine. It's a parade. It's July fourth. So we're here.

It's a very strong community and a very supportive community. They would not let someone not to have a parade.

A community now marching forward together. In Highland Park, Maggie Vespa, NBC News.

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