John Lennon Remembered: "All These Places Have Their Moments"

Fans from around the world gathered in New York's Central Park at midnight, October 10th, 2006, in the Strawberry Fields section, to honor what would have been former Beatle John Lennon's sixty-sixth birthday.  They came together to commerate the fallen rock-and-roll legend's contribution to the songtrack of their lives.

The memorial, named after his song "Strawberry Fields Forever," is located on Central Park West at 72nd Street, right across from the famed Dakota building where John resided during the latter years of his life and where his widow, Yoko Ono, still maintains an apartment. 

Part of Strawberry Fields is made up of black and white stones inlaid into a circular mosaic, carried out by Italian craftsmen and presented by the city of Naples, Italy as a tribute to Mr. Lennon.  There is only one word in the mosaic, "Imagine," the title of one of his most popular songs.  A stroll down one of the paths will take you to a bronze plaque.  It lists one hundred and twenty one countries throughout the world that endorse Strawberry Fields as a Garden Of Peace.  The landscape surrounding this area is designated a "quiet zone."

There are times during the year that the silence is broken, most notably on the anniversaries of his birth and of his untimely death (December 8th, 1980).  Impromptu sing-a-longs of John Lennon and Beatles' songs fill the air, often late into the wee morning hours, as his fans of all ages gather.  Some bring flowers, or candles, poems or other gifts to leave as offerings.  But more importantly, they all share the wonder his music gave the world.

John Lennon was a huge influence on my life, first as a Beatle and then as a solo artist.  I remember the first time I saw him in A Hard Day's Night — he was the smart and funny Beatle.  The song "Girl," from the recording Rubber Soul, with John's plaintive, drawn breath for love lost, to this very day gives me chills when I listen to it. 

Article Author: tink

Formerly a Public Relations/Artist Development maven in the music biz, I
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