Oak Creek Schools Encourage 'Jerseys For Jackson' Participation

OAK CREEK, WI — A movement seeking to honor Jackson Sparks, the 8-year-old who died from injuries at the Waukesha Christmas Parade on Nov. 21, has reached the shores of Oak Creek.

The Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District announced via Twitter Wednesday that it encourages community members to participate in the "Jerseys for Jackson" movement on Friday by wearing a jersey of any type.

"Jackson was a member of the Waukesha Blazers baseball team and truly had a passion for the sport," the district's tweet read. "So, to honor his memory we encourage everyone in our OCFSD community to wear a jersey (of any type) this Friday to show support and love for Jackson and his family #WaukeshaStrong"

Sparks was one of six people who died when a person drove an SUV through the Waukesha Christmas parade. The five others who died include Virginia Sorenson, 79; LeAnna Owen, 71; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich, 52; and Wilhelm Hospel, 81. More than 60 people were injured.

The movement previously made the rounds on various social media sites and was prompted by a request from Sparks' obituary regarding the boy's funeral arrangements.

Todd Ahrens, a Wisconsin native and current resident of Texas, took note of the request.

"I'm sitting and reading the Patch story about Jackson," Ahrens said. "It mentioned the mom wanting small children to wear baseball jerseys to the funeral to honor Jackson. I thought we could do better than that."

So, Ahrens posted his idea on Facebook:

"Please have your kids wear a baseball jersey to school on this Friday Dec 3rd honor Jackson Sparks the 8yr old boy killed in the Waukesha Wisconsin Parade tragedy... ...Let’s make this go Nationwide."

The post has since gained thousands of shares on the platform, including shares by people affiliated with local and Major League Baseball.

Ahrens, who is the father of four children, told Patch he can only imagine what the Sparks family is going through. He said his hope is for people around the nation to wear a baseball jersey Friday to honor Sparks, and that the movement is about the world coming together in a time of negativity, politics and the pandemic.

"Let's show his parents there is more than Wisconsin but all around this land who want to honor their son," he said.

Patch Editor Karen Pilarski contributed to this report.