by Betsi Bell-Brann, Audubon, NJ

The death of John Lennon — from the first news reports that he had been shot to hearing a Beatles song on the radio which signified that he was dead — impacted me deeply. It was like losing a close friend. Several days later, friends and I went to the memorial in Central Park in the area later to be designated as Strawberry Fields. John’s music was played. Then there was a moment of silence finally broken by the playing of “Imagine.” I looked up and in the air was a bunch of white balloons tied with a black ribbon. The memory will live in my heart and soul forever.

Central Park Part Two - Simon and Garfunkel’s free concert in Central Park. A totally different experience. There were masses of people to the extent that I was unable to move on my own; I was pulled along with the crowd. The music was awesome and the memory will live in my mind and soul forever.