Today marks the fifth anniversary of the fiery plane crash that killed Senator Paul Wellstone, his wife, daughter, three campaign workers, and two pilots on a miserable day. One of Bluestem's earliest readers, a Southern Minnesota native who now lives in the Chicago area, has posted a tribute to Paul Wellstone in a diary over at Dailykos. It begins:
October 25 is the 5th anniversary of Paul and Sheila Wellstone's tragic deaths in a small plane crash. This diary is adapted from a talk I gave at a memorial service for Paul in Chicago, November 2002. Paul taught Political Science at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota from 1970 until he was elected Senator in 1990. I had the good fortune to meet him while I was a student there in the late 1970’s.
If you knew Paul Wellstone, you knew he was a man of great passion. Some knew Paul through his passion for teaching. Many knew him through his passion for social justice. The people of Minnesota got to know Paul through his passion for politics and campaigning. And others knew him through his passion for his family. But Paul had another passion that went as far back as any of those things. Maybe ever farther. Paul Wellstone had a passion for wrestling.
Go read the rest of Paul Wellstone, five years on over at Dailykos.
Congressman Tim Walz attended Camp Wellstone's candidate training track. The Strib mentions this fact in Wellstone's legacy remains vibrant five years after his death.
We were working on a state senate campaign in the Northfield area in 2002 and that cold and deadly day hit the small college town with a punch to the heart. It looks to be a sunny autumn day today. Oh sun, where were you then?
Thanks for the link! I hoped to make the recommended diaries last night, but it sank off the current list. People shared some nice memories of Paul in the comments though.
Posted by: Jeff Hanneman | October 25, 2007 at 11:23 AM