40 Years Ago Today, John Lennon was Shot and Killed

Hard to believe it was 40 years ago today, John Lennon, a man of peace, was shot and killed. His music and his words will live forever. 

It's hard for a lot of people to understand the impact of John's death. He was just 40 years old, yet he was known to the world for almost 20 years. The Beatles hit the shores of the United States in 1964. 

They became popular right away, back then there were not the huge numbers of bands like today. The Beatles were no more in 1980 when John was killed, but they remained popular. John and Yoko were known for speaking out about ending war.

John had been gone from the public, happy to stay home and take care of their son, Sean. They had just arrived home when he was shot and killed by a man he had just signed an autograph for hours earlier that day.

I was just 23 when I heard about it on our local news. I was numb. It was late. Too late to call and talk to family or friends. I ran into my 2-year-old daughter's room, just to watch her sleep.

In my childhood there had been other famous people shot and killed. President Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy.

This was different. I grew up with the Beatles music, having older brothers who were huge fans. This was more like losing a family friend. Why? Why?

I cried, I felt lost, confused. People were outside of the apartment building where he was killed. Crying, holding onto each other. 

This many years later, I hold onto the wonderful things I know about him. He loved life, he loved Yoko. I hold onto the Beatles' music and John's. I look at the pictures of him smiling, videos of times when he was happy.

I am grateful for him, for the gifts he gave to us.

I am grateful to Yoko for keeping his memory alive.

Go to Imagine Peace Tower and see how Yoko honors John/