Friends gather to remember crash victim

By MARTHA KRIENKE

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The life of Eric James Mellingen, the 14-year-old New Ulm High School student who died in a car accident Wednesday, was celebrated at a student-organized assembly on Friday after school.

About 50 students, faculty and staff gathered in the lecture hall to share stories and memories of their classmate, student and friend.

Friends of Eric played a few songs as a tribute. One song by Puff Daddy sang, "Every step I take, every move I make, every single day, every time I pray, I'll be missing you."

Students wrote poems and shared them with each other. They spoke about being friends forever and always holding Eric in their hearts. Tears fell throughout the room, and students comforted one another with hugs and caring words.

As stories were shared, students remembered Eric for his smile, friendship and humor.

One girl referred to a song by Eric's favorite artist 2Pac called "Life Goes On." She said, "The song includes the line 'I don't want to die alone.' And if you look around, he didn't."

Since the car accident on Wednesday, New Ulm Public High School students have continued the grieving process. Guidance counselors, a school psychologist and School-Based Mental Health Services have helped students cope with their loss.

Principal Mark Bergmann said, "Everybody's in a different stage. Some are looking for blame. Some are looking for closure."

Most of all, the counselors have listened as students individually and in groups talked through their grief and thought of ways to honor Eric's memory.

One idea was to hang Eric's locker on the wall as a memorial, but with the guidance of school staff, the students decided to sign Eric's locker and hang up posters, letters and poems. Bergmann said the locker will remain Eric's for the rest of the school year.

On Tuesday another assembly will take place at the NUHS Lecture Theater from 6 to 8 p.m.

Eric's funeral is Monday at 11:30 a.m. at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, 398 Superior St., St. Paul, Minn.

Visitation will be on Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Johnson-Peterson Funeral Home, 612 S. Smith Ave, St. Paul.