Maybe they were on valium. Aren't some grieving people prescribed valium to help deal with a loss? No normal human being can be that put together so soon after losing three members of your immediate family.
Posted By: Chris Galdieri
Date: FRI, 10/25/02, 9:37 p.m.
Kate and I just got back from the memorial service held at the state capitol building in St. Paul this evening. It was a spectacular event. The front steps of the building were covered by supporters and mourners, many of whom wore green in an echo of the green school bus that was Wellstone's trademark. Green hats, green sweaters, green scarves, green jackets, even green ribbons worn in the style of red AIDS ribbons.
Thanks to traffic, we arrived just as the prayers were ending. After that, people milled around, not wanting to leave but unsure what to do. Some people started singing; I caught a few verses of "We Shall Overcome, "Amazing Grace," "This Land Is Your Land," "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," and others I didn't recognize. I didn't join in -- I can't sing in a voice that would have done justive to the occasion and I didn't really know many of the lyrics -- but it was truly moving to see and hear.
We ran into the professor who teaches my political theory seminar on the steps of the capitol building. He said that the political science department was devastated today. Many professors knew Wellstone quite well, and many students have been volunteering for his campaign.
I was struck by how hard so many of the people at the memorial were hit by Wellstone's death. It was not uncommon to see people in tears, hugging one another or holding hands or trying to be supportive. I am in awe of the loyalty and devotion Wellstone inspired in the people who supported him. Even his political opponents have said they respected his passion and dedication and commitment to his principles.
Former vice president Walter Mondale appeared around six-thirty and as he made his way up the steps into the capitol people started cheering for him. There were quite a few cries of "We need you, Walter!" from the crowd. I think he was slightly embarassed but it was a stunning thing to watch.
The bus was there, the ancient green school bus Wellstone rode around the state in during his first campaign in 1990, parked in front of the capitol, covered in flags and banners and campaign signs. The hood was covered with candles; the windshield was covered in flowers, held in place by the windshield wipers. Inside the capitol rotunda people had lain flowers and buttons and candles on a roped-off circle on the floor. One was a piece of paper attached to a button. The paper said "Wellstone made me" and the button read "proud to be an American." A candle had a button pinned to it, urging people to call Senator Wellstone to vote against increasing the beer tax. That brought a much-needed smile to my face.
As we drove home, we passed the campaign headquarters. An impromptu memorial "wall," covered with signs and posters and flowers, has already sprung up in the chain-link fence next to the campaign building.
Neither Kate nor I felt like making dinner tonight, so we went to our favorite local pizza place. I had a Coke and Kate had a beer, and we drank a toast to a man we were privileged to have as our representative for too short a time.
Chris