It’ll be from 8-9:30pm on the State Capitol steps. Please note that the Capitol building will be closed; attendees are asked to bring their own candles, and please do not bring any signs. The road ahead is going to be a long one, but right now I feel it’s important to center our grief around Melissa and Mark, remember who they were, what they mean to us, and what they fought for. There’ll be so much more to say in the future, but for now, I’ll leave you with these words from their children, Sophie and Colin: If you would like to honor the memory of Mark and Melissa, please consider the following: - Plant a tree.
- Visit a local park and make use of their amenities, especially a bike trail.
- Pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do.
- Tell your loved ones a cheesy dad joke and laugh about it.
- Bake something — bread for Mark or a cake for Melissa, and share it with someone.
- Try a new hobby and enjoy learning something.
- Stand up for what you believe in, especially if that thing is justice and peace.
Hope and resilience are the enemy of fear. Our parents lived their lives with immense dedication to their fellow humans. This tragedy must become a moment for us to come together. Hold your loved ones a little closer. Love your neighbors. Treat each other with kindness and respect. The best way to honor our parents' memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.
Brad Tabke, State Representative | Rep.Brad.Tabke@house.mn.gov Tenzin Tsangyang, Legislative Assistant | Tenzin.Tsangyang@house.mn.gov |