Candle Light Vigil for Melissa and Mark Hortman

All:

I'm sure you've heard the tragic news by now. Over the past weekend, Minnesota lost a great leader, Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark, to despicable acts of hate and violence that have no place in a civilized society. There is a time for everything, and the time will come for all of us to reflect on how we can continue Melissa's work of improving the lives of others. Now is the time to grieve this tragic loss of life of our fellow human beings.

I wanted to share with you all that there will be a memorial candlelight vigil this evening on the steps of the State Capitol. It will run from 8:00 - 9:30 pm. Attendees are asked to bring their own candles, and are also asked not to bring any signs. More information about the event is available on the Minnesota House DFL's Facebook page.

Melissa and Mark's children also released the following beautiful statement about how to honor the memory of their parents:

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.