By Sam Forman

Today was our first and only day in Ohio. It began as usual with at least one room boarding the bus within 5 minutes of waking up. From there our ride to the Buckeye State ensued. I am sure it was a phenomenal landscape but it is hard to see through your eyelids. I awoke to the splendid college town of Kent, Ohio. When we pulled into the Kent State University parking lot, we were unaware of the magnitude of the concrete we were standing on. Billy has spoken a great deal about our being “where history happened.” This is exactly what meeting with Alan Canfora was like. Alan is a survivor of the Kent State shootings on May 4, 1970. He gave us a tour of the campus while telling us the story of the days leading up to the shootings. We saw the incomplete memorial, the commons, and back to the infamous parking lot where 4 students were killed. I was most captivated by his description of how he held a black flag in front of the National Guard. I was the only one who knew that the black flag was a symbol of anarchy. He called me an anarchist, which was cool. The site where 4 students were gunned down was very humbling.

		Alan Canfora showing where he was shot in the wrist
holding a picture of himself waving a black flag	hugging the tree that saved his life from other bullets

Following our meeting with Alan, we made our way to Cleveland. Quite frankly, Cleveland Rocks! While the sports teams are horrendous, there is one feasible activity…the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. As Mick Jagger sang, “It’s only rock and roll, but I like it.” Pete Townshend added, “Long live rock, I need it every night”– my feelings exactly.  The prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – a pyramid on the lake – was one of the aspects of the Etgar 36 itinerary I was looking forward to the most. When we arrived at the museum, a banner describing their special exhibit was hanging over the entrance: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. That was enough to let me know I was home. To be humbled by the mystique of my passion was incredible. To be able to touch the signatures of the greats – U2, Stevie Wonder, REM, the Sex Pistols, to name a few was indescribable. Then there was the two floor exhibit about Bruce. As one of the two Jersey kids on this trip, I have talked up our state to the highest degree and to no avail. The power of words and action in his craft brought everything full circle. Alan’s revolutionary passion inspired a generation to action through demonstration. Bruce inspired a generation to overcome. Just ask Billy about his influence.

For dinner we had an experience of a foodie’s dream (and to make my brothers jealous), we went to Melt Bar & Grilled. This place is famous throughout the country for their specialty…grilled cheese. As Billy described it, it was a “gastronomic experience.”

All in all, it was an influential and rocking day! Tomorrow ….New York, New York…home sweet home.