Crowd Gathers to Remember Lennon
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010
Over 200 people, from young children to old men and women, gathered around Central Park’s Imagine Circle to commemorate the 30-year anniversary of the death of musical legend John Lennon on December 8.
Everyone had their own way of paying their respects. A group of men and women led the crowd in Beatles songs like Blackbird, Strawberry Fields, and Imagine. Some brought flowers, photographs, candles, posters, notes, or apples, to lay on the mosaic circle. Others stood on the park benches, taking pictures and singing. Mothers pushed strollers. A group of twenty-somethings sat on the grass kissing. A man knit and a little girl played with a dog.
Shana, who appeared to be the youngest person in the crowd, was 9 years old. She knew the words to every song, "It won't be long till I belong to you," she belted during "It Won't Be Long" of The Beatles’ second album “With the Beatles” released in 1963. "I'll be good like I know I should. I'm coming home." Shana's mother stood behind her. Her daughter had skipped school in New Jersey to attend the memorial.
"This is history," said another woman to her partner in a break from song.
A man carried a poster that read "The CIA Killed Lennon" while standing near the entrance to Strawberry Fields.
Police maintained a large presence at the event. They prohibited people from standing stand near the driveway of The Dakota, keeping a close watch on the crowd. But in the park, the police were quiet, almost unnoticeable, standing in the background as people paid their respects.
The gathering will continue into tonight with songs and remembrance of John Lennon.
Everyone had their own way of paying their respects. A group of men and women led the crowd in Beatles songs like Blackbird, Strawberry Fields, and Imagine. Some brought flowers, photographs, candles, posters, notes, or apples, to lay on the mosaic circle. Others stood on the park benches, taking pictures and singing. Mothers pushed strollers. A group of twenty-somethings sat on the grass kissing. A man knit and a little girl played with a dog.
Shana, who appeared to be the youngest person in the crowd, was 9 years old. She knew the words to every song, "It won't be long till I belong to you," she belted during "It Won't Be Long" of The Beatles’ second album “With the Beatles” released in 1963. "I'll be good like I know I should. I'm coming home." Shana's mother stood behind her. Her daughter had skipped school in New Jersey to attend the memorial.
"This is history," said another woman to her partner in a break from song.
A man carried a poster that read "The CIA Killed Lennon" while standing near the entrance to Strawberry Fields.
Police maintained a large presence at the event. They prohibited people from standing stand near the driveway of The Dakota, keeping a close watch on the crowd. But in the park, the police were quiet, almost unnoticeable, standing in the background as people paid their respects.
The gathering will continue into tonight with songs and remembrance of John Lennon.
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