Kent State

I’ve shared with you some of my reflections on the Vietnam Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., and it’s inspiration for ‘A Pact with the Living.’ To balance the account as I’m hoping the book does, I’d like to share with you thoughts on the events that took place at Kent State University, May 4, 1970.  As I tried to present in the book, descriptions and interpretations of that day vary depending on perspective, nonetheless, it was the day our (National Guard) troops fired on our citizens.  The resulting outcry was a major turning point in the public’s feeling about “Nixon’s” war.

To walk the hallowed ground of the Kent State Memorial is as solemn as standing in front of The Wall. I have been there a couple times, including the 45^th annual commemoration of the event.  I am confronted with remembrances as soon as I park my car in the Prentiss Hall lot (4).  Three spaces are cordoned off, commemorating the places where 3 of the victims died; the fourth is across the road behind me.  At the top end of the lot is a low marble stone, etched with the names the four: Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer and William Schroeder.  I head up the hill to walk counter-clockwise around the Taylor Hall.  A memorial of four beveled blocks of granite are situated among benches and spaces for reflection and meditation.

Behind the building is Blanket Hill and the Commons where the anti-war demonstration started. Nestled at the bottom of the hill is a low brick landmark which holds the Victory Bell (1).  The National Guard troops chased the protestors up the hill and around to the front of the building.  Under an eclectic structure called the Pagoda (3), the troops confronted the crowd, many of whom had turned and were throwing rocks at them.  Accounts were varied and never confirmed, but the soldiers thought they heard rifle shots, so they turned, knelt and fired back.  The parking lot was about 200 yards below them.  In-between was the tall metal edifice called the Don Drumm Sculpture (2).  In one of its ¾ inch thick panels is a bullet hole (5) from that day.  I shudder to think of a rifle shot that could pierce that metal, striking a human body.

‘A Pact with the Living’ strives to fathom the pain felt by people on both sides of the war debate. My visits to The Vietnam Wall and Kent State memorial, provide me with all-too-real exposure to the tragedy of war.

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Key to the Kent State collage:

1. The Victory Bell and Blanket Hill
2. Don Drumm Sculpture
3. The Pagoda
4. Prentiss Hall parking lot with sites of victims’ deaths cordoned off
5. Bullet hole in the Don Drumm Sculpture

How about an excerpt from A Pact with the Living?  Josh has just met Merry at an anti-war protest in downtown Boulder.  This scene takes place after a harrowing near collision with an angry redneck driving his pick-up truck through the marching crowd.  Here’s a link to a reprint of the original article, “Suppose They Gave a War, and No One Came.”

An hour later, Josh and Merry fell onto the bus stop bench at University Avenue. Once again, he was delighted to be sitting next to the pretty girl in the paisley skirt.  This time, she really was waiting for a bus to her house in South Boulder.  After the near-disaster on the bridge, they had walked up Broadway and passed several other benches, talking and getting to know each other.  Her breezy manner and radiant smile were charming but it was the natural way she regularly grabbed his hand or clutched his elbow that captivated him.  She especially didn’t hide her fascination with him.  When they sat down, she had pressed up against his side.

“Hey, Josh, you might be into this.” She scooped some flimsy pages from the macramé bag, straightened and smoothed them.  “It’s an article out of McCall’s.  My mom has stacks of old magazines piled up in our den.  I was leafing through a few of them and just happened to open the October ’66 issue to this page.  It’s pretty cool.  So, I ripped the pages out and have been showing it to my friends.”  Merry paused and looked at Josh.   With a wink and suggestive grin, she added, “Yeah, you look like you could be a friend.”

Lightly gripping the magazine pages with her fingertips, she held them out for him. He accepted them with the same delicate touch and studied the top page.  In the upper left hand corner was the picture of a young man who had a serious expression, pointy hair and a striped shirt.  He looked pretty conservative and straight.  Then, bold letters jumped off the page: “Suppose They Gave a War, and No One Came.”

“Pretty heavy title, huh?” Merry said. Rummaging around in her bag, she pulled out a worn, large envelope.  “Here, put the pages in this and you can take it with you and read it when you get a chance.  I want it back, though, so I guess we’ll have to see each other again.”

Her gaze made his insides turn to jelly. He’d stay on that bench all day and night just to feel her closeness, but if she wanted to see him again, he could hang onto that promise.  “Oh, yeah, for sure.  I mean, yeah, we’ll have to get together again so I can give you back this article.  Oh yeah, after I read it.”

She laughed and touched her upper lip with her fingers. Diving back into the handbag, she withdrew a scrap of paper and a stubby pencil.  Scribbling, she handed him the note and rose.  “Call me real soon, okay?”

Josh jumped up with the sound of the bus rumbling toward them. His thoughts were a jumble.  He gave up trying to make sense of it all and watched her watch the bus creak to a stop.  When the doors banged open, Merry stepped onto the bottom tread.  She turned, put a hand on his shoulder and kissed him on the cheek.