Remembering Senator Paul Wellstone 22 Years Later

EVELETH, Minn.– Nearly 2 dozen people gathered Friday from Duluth, the Iron Range, and even the Twin Cities, reminisced and connect with one another about one senator who touched the lives of many, as well as the loved ones who died alongside him.

“I just thought he was an amazing lawmaker with great energy. He stood for progressive values. Which is something that is really important to me, particularly today,” said Holly Gruber, a former editor at Duluth News Tribune.

The ceremony was held at the Paul Wellstone memorial. At the memorial, stands a stone with a heartfelt poem engraved, and another stone nearby in the forest.

Throughout the trail, there are several signs honoring the lives lost in the crash, as well as Wellstone’s notable efforts as a senator.

“Just coming here today is a way to support his memory, support his good deeds, and remember all those who also died in that plane crash,” said Gruber.

Thirteen people who knew Wellstone, including campaign staff, elected officials, and friends all shared stories. Some of those stories ended in laughs, and others with tears.

“He was the only senator I’d ever seen eye to eye with. I mean that literally and figuratively. Because when he was at the paper, I could see eye to eye with him,” laughed Gruber.

Many of those speeches shared similar themes about his kindness and understanding demeanor.

“Paul meant so much to Minnesotans. And he was a person who worked across the aisle endlessly. He could always find something he agreed with, with somebody. And as a senator, would work on that issue,” said Lisa Radosevich-Craig, former Northern MN Director for Paul Wellstone.

With election day less than a week away, there was a big message for today’s gathering, to go out and vote.

“He would love to gather people. He was an extrovert’s extrovert. And have all of us who loved each other, worked with each other mourn them, get together and get some good out of this. So it’s time to remember him, and then action and go out and get the vote out,” said Radosevich-Craig.

The hope for Lisa is for voters to take Paul’s attributes and apply them towards this upcoming election.

“He loved people. He could find the good in everyone. Especially in these turbulent times, we wanted to bring that back into focus. That we have more in common than we do differences. And we can always by working together, find good solutions,” said Radosevich-Craig.

This celebration was filled with a morning of reminiscing, and an optimistic mindset for the future.