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By Brett Horowitz

One bright and shining morning on July 20, Etgar 36 woke up to intense amounts of heat and humidity in Ohio. After the usual hotel breakfast we began our trek to Kent State University where we met with Alan Canfora. Alan was one of the student protestors who was shot for protesting the American invasion of Cambodia. All of this was explained to us by Alan at the incomplete memorial to the massacre. He also told us the reason why the memorial was never completed, which happens to be because of the conservative pressure placed upon the university.

The next stop on the tour was “The Victory Bell,” a small brick structure with an operational bell which was erected in the 1950’s and rung whenever the Kent State football team won. By the time Alan attended Kent, the football team was not so good so the bell was seldom rung for its original purpose and instead used to assemble hippie protestors. Alan later took us to a stone pagoda built by a Kent architecture student where he began to talk about the victims. He pointed to all the areas where the National Guard assembled and where he and his fellow protestors stood. Right there was also a metal sculpture that a bullet passed clean through. Right by the statue was the tree Alan used for cover when he was shot in the wrist. He told us the story about what he did after getting shot, which included entering Nixson (not Nixon) Hall for a towel to stop his bleeding. After the story, Alan took us to all 4 of the sites where the 4 were murdered. The sites were all marked with 6 black lamps, each approximately 3.5 feet tall, in a formation no bigger than a parking space. Each site had a plaque in the ground with the name of the victim killed there. People had also placed stones on top of each of the lamps (24 in total) out of respect for the victims. After saying good bye to Alan Canfora, we ate our lunch on campus.

After an hour bus ride, we arrived in Cleveland, Ohio. Everyone seemed to notice the industrial roots of the city and Billy explained to us that Cleveland is trying to become a more prosperous city by attempting big business. After viewing the modest Cleveland skyline we entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Everyone seemed to enjoy the museum. I spent the majority of my time looking at each guitar and guessing who played it, I averaged at about 87% correct. Everyone also seemed to like the gift shop, which was really quite interesting because it offered quite an extensive selection of vinyl records. After the tour we went outside to discuss what rock and roll or just music in general meant to each of us. Unfortunately, we had to say good bye to the Lenchner twins, Adam and Daniel. As we drove away from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, we got take out from a grilled cheese restaurant known as Melt. After a longer bus ride we made it to Clarion, PA on our trek to New York City.

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.

We began our rainy day in Ohio by an early morning drive up to Kent State University near Akron, OH. A great tragedy happened at the college on May 4, 1970, when 4 students were killed by the National Guard in an attempt to control and disperse an anti-Vietnam War protest. Nine other students were injured as well from the shootings. We were fortunate enough to meet with one of them, Alan Canfora. He began his talk by mentioning an odd coincidence: three of the four victims were Jewish. This created a larger impact of the event for us. Alan walked us around the campus showing us where events happened that led to the actual shooting.

It all began on April 30, 1970, when President Nixon announced that the US was going to invade Cambodia. The protests began over that weekend with plans for a big rally on Monday, May 4th. On May 3rd, the National Guard arrived in large numbers and the next day they used tear gas to disperse the rally. Although most of the protestors left, roughly 200 regrouped in a parking lot. Suddenly, the National Guard’s company G fired into the parking lot. Jeffrey Miller, Allison Krause, William Schroeder, and Sandy Scheuer lay dead on the ground. Alan mentioned that the memorial on the campus had not been complete but the part that is bears the words: “learn, inquire and reflect.” Alan said we all need to learn of the events of Kent State, inquire as to what the motives of the National Guard were, and reflect on the experience. We walked to the parking lot where the victims were hit and Alan spoke about each of them.

on the field where the showdown between protesters and National Guard took place	Alan Canfora showing us the picture of him holding up a black flag on the day of protests	Alan Canfora showing us the tree that he ducked behind after being shot by National Guardsmen
in front of the memorial marker placed by the Hillel of Kent State a year after the shootings

After Kent State, we drove to Cleveland to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Billy and a few other of us, myself included, were looking forward to seeing the temporary Bruce Springsteen exhibit. We all saw the influence rock and roll has had on our culture. When we were done, we sat outside the museum and had our wrap up of the past several days. Billy asked the group to name a band they would have liked to see in concert. Most of us said the Beatles, and at the end of wrap up Billy announced that he had got us tickets to see Paul McCartney live in Washington DC!

We awoke bright and early to a beautiful sunny Toledo morning and hit the road to Kent State University. After a 2 hour ride we stepped off the bus looking at the beautiful campus. As we were introduced to our influential speaker, Alan Canfora, I found myself standing above three words engraved in stone: Inquire, Learn and Reflect. Alan Canfora, along with thousands of other students, protested against the government and the Vietnam War. May 4th, 1970 marked a day in history that many people will never forget. On that day, Alan Canfora was one of the students who stood in protest while the National Guard tried to restore the peace. Alan’s morning began with the creation of his black flag in representation of anarchy and the mourning of lives lost in the Vietnam War. As the students began their protest, the National Guard arrived fully armed. They began by releasing tear gas which caused the students to run towards the parking lot. The National Guard opened fire and, soon enough, Alan Canfora became one of 13 victims shot that day. For Alan, a tree is what saved his life. A bullet went through his wrist but fortunately he was able to dodge the rest of the other bullets as he hid behind a tree. Unlike Alan, four students were unable to survive the attack. Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandy Scheuer, and William Schroeder all lost their lives in this horrific tragedy.

The official memorial to commemorate the martyrs is only 7% complete. Alan explained how the university displayed a gross amount of insensitivity to the deaths and up until 1990 refused to even begin a memorial. I was shocked and angered to hear this. Four innocent people were killed that day and it is a sin to not want to commemorate their lives.

Alan is still fighting to complete the memorial. His walking us around the campus and showing us how the event unfolded has taught me, and I hope many others, to fight for what you believe in. From this horrifying day in history, a lesson should be learned. In the words of Allison Krause, “flowers are better than bullets”.

After a successful meeting with Alan, we hopped on the bus for a meal of Subway sandwiches. Before we knew it we had arrived at our next stop, the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. We began our tour by meeting the curator of the museum, Howard Kramer, and then we watched two movies displaying the journey of rock and roll. It was awesome when we saw them reference such influential places such as Sun Studios and Beale Street as we had just been standing there a few weeks ago! We then had time to explore the museum on our own. I enjoyed reading the history of great artists including John Mellencamp, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin. When I reached the third floor that includes the actual Hall of Fame, it was interesting to read about the four categories of inductees. These include performers, non performers, early influencers and side men. I really enjoyed learning the influence of so many artists throughout the years.

Next we began our wrap up of the day right outside the museum. At this point, Billy shared one of the best surprises he had up his sleeve. After speaking about the impact of going to see Bruce Springsteen in concert, he happily shared the news that he will be taking us to see Bruce Springsteen live in New Jersey this Sunday. Being from New Jersey, I was beyond excited. With a smile on all of our faces, we stepped on the bus to begin our journey to New York. At the end of the day, I felt I successfully had inquired, learned and reflected on a wonderful day in Ohio.

Today in Cleveland we went to Kent State University and the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.

At Kent State University we met with Alan Canfora, a survivor of the shootings that happened on the Kent State campus on May 4 1970.

He gave us a walking tour of the campus as he told us about the events and days that led up to that fateful day. He began by showing us a memorial that the school made and it is a shame to hear that they only completed 7% of it before they stopped. It was incredibly moving to be at the site that such an event occurred. Alan Canfora feels that the new evidence he uncovered of an actual command for the guardsmen to fire will help bring closure to this tragedy and bring those responsible for killing four students to justice.

After Kent State we went into downtown Cleveland and to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum. We met with Howard Kramer, the curator of the museum, who gave us a brief overview of the museum as well as spoke about the role rock and roll played in social and political change.

It was incredible to go and see the museum. It was great to see exhibits and things associated with the artists I enjoy listening to. Two of the things that really stood out to me were the exhibit on the Warped Tour and the signatures of every musician who has been inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Today we began by going to Kent State University where 4 students were killed by the National Guard on May 4, 1970. We met with Alan Canfora on the campus. He was a student protester who was shot in the wrist and survived by falling behind a tree. You may know him from the famous picture of him waving the black flag of anarchy in front of the National Guard. He walked us around campus and showed us exactly where the tragic events took place. There were 4 memorials in the parking lot of the school where the students died. Three of the students killed were Jewish. It was a powerful and moving experience to speak with Alan where his life, and the country, was changed.

We then made the one hour ride to Cleveland and watched the beginning of the “Blues Brothers” to get in the spirit for our visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum.

Music has played a large part of my life, so I was freaking out and running around the museum in a frenzy. Afterwards we had our first wrap up since the first half of our group left in San Francisco. Everyone has grown since the beginning of this journey. Our answers and questions are on a higher level and thought provoking. We have learned to think for ourselves and fight for what we believe in. In conclusion, “Cleveland Rocks!”

We woke up bright and early this morning at 8 AM to head from Toledo to Kent, OH, the home of Kent State University. Considering we did not get to our hotel the night before until 1 AM, it was a quiet 2 hour ride. Natalie even said she woke up at one point during the ride and everyone on the bus was asleep except for Carleton.

At Kent State we met with Alan Canfora a survivor of the shootings at Kent State in 1970. Alan showed us the memorial to the events and where the major happenings occurred.

Alan Canfora showing a picture of himself in front of the National Guard on May 4, 1970

The memorial, which was intended to be a 70 x 70 foot plaza was only 7% completed because the university ran out of money. The memorial also did not mention the names of the students who were killed and wounded because the President of the University at the time believed that the events and not the students deserved the memorial. Alan believes that the students were martyrs. There are two separate plaques that bear the names of the victims on other parts of the campus. Two amazing facts that Alan told us were that 3 of the 4 students who were killed were Jewish even though only 5% of the schools population was Jewish. He also told us that nearly half of the people shot that day were merely bystanders and not protesters. Alan took us to the hill from which a dozen national guardsmen opened fire and then down to the parking lot where all 4 students were killed and to the tree that saved his life.

It is clear that the students were hundreds of feet away from the guardsmen. Alan showed us the spot where each student was killed and spoke about each student.

The overall message from our time at Kent State was consistent with the themes of our journey: direct action, the power of the citizen, the importance of learning from history and it also brought up the question that Billy posed to us at the King Center on the first day of the trip, what are you willing to risk your life for? As we were leaving Kent State we listened to the song “Ohio” by Neil Young. It was a nice segue into our visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

We watched a few movies about the history of rock and roll and then walked around the museum on our own. I thought the museum, which was mainly pictures, outfits and guitars lacked some substance. Billy has often played rock songs for us at times when the song has significance to where we are or our current discussion so despite the fact that I felt the museum was weak, being at the birthplace of the term “rock and roll” was worth it. Billy also expressed one of the great things about rock and roll by saying that whenever you feel alone in some way, you can put on an album and realize that there are others who feel the same and fighting the same fight.

So off we go to out hotel in Clarion, PA on our way to New York City.

We then drove 45 minutes to Cleveland. Billy explained how Cleveland has resurrected itself from its earlier image as the mistake by the lake. We visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum. We have learned much about the power of music to help create change in the world. The Assistant Director, Howard Kramer, met us and he spoke about rock music’s role in social change. We were able to tour the museum in small groups so everyone ran to their favorite artists and saw so much.

Earlier in the day our bus had started having problems so we switched it for the day with another bus. We went back to the repair shop in Alliance, OH to pick up our old bus but it wasn’t ready yet. As we wee waiting, the repair shop owner, Buddy, started asking about our journey. We told him about Kent State and he informed us that he had friends who were in the National Guard at Kent State that day. He went to dinner with us at a local diner and told us his version of the story. Everyone agreed that this was a great way to end the day and how valuable it is to hear all sides and how confusing it can be when there is more than one side to each story. If we have learned anything on this trip it is that we have to keep looking at all sides of issues to find the truth and before we can really make our decisions.

Alan Canfora, a survivor of the Kent State shootings, telling us his story at the May 4th memorial on the Kent State campus

Alan at one of the memorals at the spot where one of the students was killed

Alan showing us the tree that saved his life as he fell behind it once he was shot and avoided other bullets

The diner and our new friend Buddy in Alliance, Ohio

Howard Kramer, assistant director of the Rock and Roll museum, speaking to us