Annapolis honors victims and survivors of Capital Gazette shooting in July Fourth parade

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - This year, the annual Independence Day parade in Annapolis wasn't just about celebrating July Fourth, but honoring victims and survivors of the Capital Gazette shooting.

Staff from the paper, typically covering the event, were part of it, along with some family members. There were a few dozen in the group that walked in the parade.

"It was really moving to be here today," said photojournalist Joshua McKerrow.

"To feel the love and see the depth of the affection Annapolis had for us."

Some carried signs thanking first responders, including John San Felice whose daughter, Selene, survived the shooting.

"She was hiding under a desk and called me whispering that she was trying to survive," San Felice said. "That somebody came in and shot the editors and he was still in the building. And then I didn't hear anything for almost 40 minutes."

He shared why he wanted to be part of the parade.

"I wanted to thank the first responders who saved her life," San Felice said. "If it wasn't for the quick response, I may have been attending a funeral instead of a parade."

"It was really moving to be here today. To feel the love and see the depth of the affection Annapolis had for us."

"It was overwhelming it was something that I never expected to see. My career has prepared me for a lot of things but never something like this."

McKerrow said his career in journalism never prepared him for something like this. He urged people to support local media.

"We're all in this together. We're good people. We're all good people," he said. "We're stronger than any divisions. We're going to get through everything. Just thanks. Thanks to Annapolis."

Around the city, signs were displayed that said "Annapolis strong." There's still a lot of sadness in the city, but also a very deep sense of community and a lot of support for those who lived through such a tragedy.