Minnesota to Memphis

Even though there were thousands at the gates of Graceland for the 2006 candlelight vigil, it wasn't hard to find Minnesotans in the crowd. Here are some of their voices.

Last update: October 21, 2006 - 8:54 AM

Even though there were thousands at the gates of Graceland for the 2006 candlelight vigil, it wasn't hard to find Minnesotans in the crowd. Here are some of their voices.

KAY WARREN
ROSEMOUNT

"I've been to Graceland 15 times, but this is my first Elvis Week. For 50 years, I've listened to him and loved him.

"I first heard him in 1956, on the radio in Pierre, South Dakota. I was 15 years old then. It was 'Love Me Tender' or 'Heartbreak Hotel,' I can't remember which.

"He had stage presence, charisma, the way he moved. He was not like anybody else at that time. Plus he was extremely good looking, which doesn't hurt.

"I came here because there's a peaceful feeling here. Even with all these people around, there's a peaceful thing going on. We're all here for the same reason, we love Elvis. It's wonderful."

LOUANN AND CHUCK CHAPLINSKI
MIDDLE RIVER, MINN.

Chuck: "We come in a fifth-wheel trailer [a kind of RV]. This is our ninth or 10th time. Since the 25th anniversary of his death, we've been coming every year and we will continue to come each year as long as we can. We've been fans since '54 or '55. Since before we got together."

LouAnn: "We've been together 43 years. It's a relaxing place. We come for the music in the tent [where the Elvis Tribute Artists perform]. It's a real friendly environment."

Chuck: "If you have any problems, you can put them on the back burner pretty easily. We've been here 10 days. We come for the vigil, mainly. On the 25th anniversary, we got in the line [to visit the grave] at 7 p.m. and we didn't get off the line until 5:30 a.m. It's not hard, not when you're doing it for Elvis."

ELE SHERRARD
PLYMOUTH

"I've loved him since '55. I saw him at the Minneapolis Auditorium in 1956. I've seen him three times. With me, everything is Elvis. My kids say, 'Oh Mother, not Elvis again!'

"That first time, I was 18. We were nuts, screaming, leaning over the railing, crying. We say, 'Those crazy kids!' Well, I was one of them.

"My Dad was not happy. It was Mother's Day and he said, 'Why are you going to see that guy, he's wiggling around up there?' Oh, he was something. The last time I saw him was in the '70s in St. Paul. He was not himself. He was fooling around and missing lyrics. It was a little sad."

Two weeks after the vigil, Sherrard called the reporter.

"I just want to make one thing clear. We don't put Elvis before God. Please put that in there."

Recent Travel stories

Frugal, savvy travelers use creativity to see the sights - October 21, 2006

Frugal, savvy travelers use creativity to see the sights - When the Spauldings of Minneapolis won $42,000 dressed like lumberjacks on “Family Feud,” they spent it on travel. More