logo
Look: Peace mural unveiled ahead of 55th observance of Kent State shootings

Look: Peace mural unveiled ahead of 55th observance of Kent State shootings

Yahoo02-05-2025

KENT, Ohio (WJW) – Sunday marks the 55th observance of the Ohio National Guard opening fire on anti-war demonstrators at Kent State University, killing four people and wounding nine others.
For years, the university attempted to distance itself from that event, but in recent decades, it has welcomed visitors to the May 4 Visitors Center and invited them to visit historical sites around campus, hoping to learn from the legacy of that event.
'It changed the voting age. It changed how the Vietnam War ended and it also was a significant tragedy of what can happen when there are misunderstandings around peaceful change,' said Holly Merryman, associate professor at the university's School of Peace and Conflict Studies.
'The story is always extremely relevant, but especially now. There's so much discord in the world and I think here on Kent State's campus, we understand what can happen when we don't get together and use our voices to dialogue with each other,' said Alison Caplin, director of the visitor center.
Publishers Clearing House refunding customers $18M: Are you eligible?
During a renovation on campus, Merryman reached out to Vickie Boatright of BZTAT Studios in Canton, asking if she would help create something appropriate to display at the school.
Originally created as the Center for Peaceful Change following the May 4 shootings, it was intended to help students learn from the tragedy and work in a positive way to help resolve conflict.
The studio worked with young artists, without a template, to create an evolving mural intended to generate conversations and questions about what peace means.
'At one point, they had drawn a lot of peace signs, a lot of hearts and then I went and put chaos over top of it and we talked about how chaos can disrupt things and make things more difficult. Problem words, difficult words are in red. Conflict, hate, anger, violence and chaos,' Boatright said. 'Then they wrote in smaller words over those letters. Words how you get past violence, how you get past conflict, how you get past chaos.'
Large bear takes a stroll near school in Ashtabula
On Thursday, at the beginning of a days-long observance of the events of May 4, 1970, the mural was unveiled in the School of Peace and Conflict Studies, entitled 'Visualizing Peace, a work in progress.'
More than a generation after the 1970 shooting, the work intends to help advance the very thing demonstrators were demanding when the shots were fired.
'Peace.'
'You can't deny it happened, and we remember those people who died that day every year and we should because we need to remember the lessons that we learned from that,' said Boatright.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Local community college closed due to power outage
Local community college closed due to power outage

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Local community college closed due to power outage

KIRTLAND, Ohio (WJW) — Lakeland Community College announced classes were canceled for Monday, June 9, due to a power outage impacting the campus. According to a post on the school's Facebook page, 'All classes, offices, activities and events on campus are cancelled. This includes in-person, online/virtual and hybrid classes.' Speeding Volkswagen kills two in local crash: Police FirstEnergy reported some power outages in the area of the school. It wasn't clear what caused the outage or when power was expected to be restored. Additional alerts will be sent to students, faculty and staff should there be future closings or delays. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Longtime volunteers to lead Springfield parade
Longtime volunteers to lead Springfield parade

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

Longtime volunteers to lead Springfield parade

The Springfield Fourth of July Committee has announced Jerome and Regina Oakes as the grand marshals for the 2025 Fourth of July Parade. According to a news release from the committee, Jerome Oakes and Regina Armstrong both grew up in the town of Springfield but the two had not met until July 4, 1976 at Springfield's bicentennial celebration of America's Declaration of Independence. In 1980, they were wed at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Springfield Center. According to the couple, they have always been happy to remain in Springfield, "a place they consider beautiful and peaceful, and where they have both found satisfaction in service to their community," the release stated. Jerome Oakes is a veteran of the Vietnam War and recipient of a Purple Heart medal and other awards of distinction. He is a member of the Richfield Springs American Legion, the Cooperstown VFW and the Utica DAV. An active Boy Scout in his youth, Jerome achieved the rank of Star Scout and was a member of the Order of the Arrow and the Explorers. When the Oakes' twin boys were young, Jerome assisted the Cub Scout troop and coached Little League and T-ball teams. He has been a volunteer fireman in the Springfield Fire Department for 54 years and served as an EMS volunteer for nine years, according to the release. He is the superintendent of Springfield Cemetery, where he is responsible for managing burials, repairing and leveling headstones, excavating cremation plots, selling plots, and assisting with funeral arrangements. He places flags on the graves of veterans for Memorial Day, a service he extends to nearby cemeteries, the release stated. He also serves as custodian at the Springfield Community Center and traditionally carries the flag for the Springfield Fire Department's marching unit in the Fourth of July Parade, "as well as fulfilling many other supportive roles around the event," according to the release. Regina Oakes had a 47-year career at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. As a certified pharmacy technician, she primarily worked at the Cancer Center. Shortly after retiring, she returned to assist during the COVID pandemic, according to the release. For several summers, after completing shifts at the hospital, Regina spent her evenings working at the Cooperstown Dreams Park. She currently serves as an elected member of the Springfield Town Council, bringing almost 16 years of experience to the council, the release stated. She can often be found at the Springfield Community Center overseeing events and leading senior exercise programs and community pickleball, or at the Springfield Landing, where she manages boat slips and park passes. She spearheaded the clean-up and restoration of the old school cafeteria at the community center and launched the Springfield Community Kitchen in the fall of 2023, the release stated. The luncheons held at the center are planned, cooked and served by Regina, assisted by a staff of volunteers. The program is completely supported by community donations. Regina has been an active member of the Springfield Fire Department Auxiliary for 13 years. She also organizes the Springfield Fourth of July Committee's chicken barbecue. "The committee is pleased to honor their dedication and celebrate their positive impact on the community during this year's parade," the release stated. The parade will commence its 111th year at 11 a.m. Friday, July 4 in the hamlet of Springfield Center. This year's parade theme celebrates "We the People." The parade will end at the Springfield Community Center, where a celebration will be held. The festivities will feature music by the Camden Continentals Fife and Drum Corps and the Cooperstown Community Band, Brooks' chicken barbecue, homemade pie, the Springfield Historical Society Open House, children's games, raffles and more. Free parade parking is available at the community center. An evening concert and fireworks display will take place at Glimmerglass State Park, with music by local rock band Scattered Flurries starting at 7:30 p.m. , to be followed by fireworks at dusk. At 3:30 p.m. Sunday, July 6, the Glimmerglass Festival will present the 2025 Springfield Appreciation Concert, featuring musical selections from the festival's upcoming 50th anniversary season. Tickets for the concert ($5 each) and Springfield Fourth of July T-shirts ($15 each) are available at Convenience Corner, at the intersection of state Route 80 and U.S. Route 20 in Springfield Center. All proceeds support Springfield's Fourth of July events. For more information, look for the Springfield 4th of July Parade and Celebration on Facebook, email or call (315)858-0304.

Remains of Ohio soldier, who died as WWII POW, found and being brought home
Remains of Ohio soldier, who died as WWII POW, found and being brought home

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Yahoo

Remains of Ohio soldier, who died as WWII POW, found and being brought home

**Related Video Above: Remains of Cleveland WWII Airman was brought home after 80 years last year ELMORE, Ohio (WJW) — A northern Ohio man who died as a prisoner of war while fighting in WWII is finally being laid to rest in his hometown this summer, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) said Friday. Remains of Soldier killed in WWII return to Freeport, Ohio and interred with full military honors U.S. Army Sgt. Howard Hasselkus, who was 24 years old at the time of his death, was reportedly accounted for in September 2024 but it was only recently that his family received a 'full briefing' from the government agency. Now his story is being released to the public. When Japanese forces invaded the Philippines in late 1941, Hasselkus was fighting with the 192nd Tank Battalion. By May of 1942, thousands of U.S. and Filipino military members were taken as prisoners of war following the surrender of Bataan, with Hasselkus being one of them. Hasselkus died Nov. 22, 1942, and was buried at Cabanatuan Camp Cemetery in a common grave, according to camp records, the DPAA said. The American Graves Registration Service diligently worked to identify soldiers remains following the war, but Hasselkus was never found. 4 finally going home after WWII bomber crash left 11 dead and 'non-recoverable' Then in 2018, as part of the Cabanatuan Project, DPAA scientists began looking into the remains still unidentified. Using anthropological, dental and DNA analysis, the team was able to find Hasselkus. 'Today, Hasselkus is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines,' the agency said in a statement. 'A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.' Hasselkus is being buried in Elmore, Ohio, in August. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store