Remembering John Lennon

What can you say of a genius who is gone but never ever forgotten today or yesterday, but to honor his memory with loving thoughts and to seek his peace with much imagine. I will never stop listening to his music and their messages, because they did change my life, at a time of no assurance, he helped us believe in others and ourselves, with the dear messages from his heart to ours. 1967 when i graduated from high school i felt strength from his music and the beatles also, this was a time of pure harmony,and love thy neighbor, for sure! Where did it go?? --Ruthe de la Rosa, Palm Springs, Calif.

I am only 17 years old and unfortunately was not able to be apart of the days when John Lennon was alive. My dad, being from England, introduced me to the Beatles when I was only seven. As I started listening to more and more of my parent's vinyl records of the Beatles, I instantly loved John's voice and technique. One day I asked my mother if John would be coming out with any more albums? And she sadly responded,"No sweetie. He was shot by a very bad man." I broke down. I cried for days.I had lost the man and his music before I really had it. That Christmas, I received my first guitar. The next day I bought two beginner guitar books filled with John Lennon songs. Through the years my love for his music and life keep growing. He has inspired my own music and writing.My generation needs a man,a musician, a poet like John Lennon. I would like to say that time heals the heart. But in John's case, it doesn't. You can't help but think about the music he could have made or the views he could have shared. He meant so much to so many people.And through our memories and love, John Lennon will always SHINE ON!  --Chelsea G., Dubois County, Ind.

He is and will be my lifelong hero.The reason of it is his "Imagine". I regarded that song the best of 20th century or probably timeless best, but not one of the bests; it is the best. This song is not stand for a person, but for all the mankind. May be it's a fantasy, but this one is full of compassion, love, and far sighted. I am 5 years younger than my hero. I salute him as a younger brother. As a Buddhist I pray his message should roam every corner of the universe and make all beings afresh with hope and love! --Nyunt Shwe, Tokyo, Japan

As the 25th anniversary of the violent and senseless death of the man of peace and love; John Lennon; approaches,I can`t help but imagine how sad and disappointed he would be in the state of affairs of this world and our government. Being a 31-year-old mother of two young sons in 1980, I told them stories of my revered Beatles and John Lennon`s activism. He was my proxy,since I was stuck in Nebraska and felt unable to carry on the work of letting the world know how important peace and love was.He carried on for me and then he was gone -- But never gone from the hearts of those of us who knew he was a man of love and peace, a beacon for mankind.His music will always go on and he will live forever. --Beverly Fisher, Mesa, Ariz.

I watched your program tonight. I was 12 years old old when Lennon died. And I have ALWAYS been a Beatles, and Lennon (solo) fan growing up, thanks to an older brother and sister. I will never forget "the day the music died." Everytime a see anything about Lennon's death, it's just like hearing it for the first time. Lennon changed the world.There is not one musical performer, that I can think of anyway, that will not say that the Beatles, and / or Lennon inspired them to go into music,and changed their life, forever. I know they changed mine. He will live on forever in all our hearts untill the end of time. And I hope Mark David Chapman rots in jail for the pain he caused on all the world. --Julie Ross, Washington Court House, Ohio

Even though I knew how this story ended, I found myself wanting to change it. I was pregnant with my daughter at the time and had always been a Beatle Fanatic. At 6, I begged my parents to let me stay home from church the Sunday night that the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan. I could hardly bear to see the ending of the show, and realized I had 'blocked out' exactly when I heard the news (that I now remember watching that night)because I became so upset and was worried it might affect my baby. I have now been crying for about 30 minutes; truly cathartic experience. What a loss and a tragedy. --Patti Ellis, Atlanta, Ga.

I was 13 years old in 1980. My brother was a huge Beatles fan. I listened to his Beatles records regularly. While other kids my age knew all of the recent Disco hits of the late 70's, I knew the words to every Beatles song. Before John Lennon died, I was already wearing out my copy of Double Fantasy. I grew up in Brooklyn, NY and I remember watching the news before going to bed on December 8th. The breaking story was that John Lennon had been shot. I tried to stay up, but couldn't. The next morning, my clock radio turned on, and "I Feel Fine" was playing. The announcer came on after the song ended and said "One of the songs by the late John Lennon." I absolutely froze. I believe that was the day that the innocense of my childhood had ended. It didn't make any sense to me as a 13 year old kid, and it still doesn't today as a 38 year old adult. Knowing what a free spirit John Lennon was, the best thing to do on this unfortunate anniversary is to celebrate his life and his music. I'll be playing all of my Beatles and John Lennon CD's on December 8th.  --Steve Gliner, Fort Myers, Fla.

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