John Van Horn

Kent State Memorial Service And March John Van Horn

Kent State Memorial Service and March, May 5, 1970 Introduction to the 2016 Edition This photo essay was originally written for the McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College) Archives and shared with numerous participants and friends from the college community. It was originally spiral bound and had a printing of approximately 75 copies. The compelling reason for the original document was to show that in the midst of the violent outbursts throughout the country, particularly on college and university campuses, which immediately followed the invasion of Cambodia by the United States and the tragic shooting of students by the Ohio National Guard at Kent State University, individuals and groups could still agree to disagree and demonstrate their beliefs in a civil manner. At most universities, protesters, administrators and local police, as well as involved government officials, were not listening to or communicating with each other; rather, their posturing was often antagonistic and certainly did not lend itself to finding common ground or solutions. In May of 1970, however, on a small college campus in a rural, conservative town in Maryland, a simple Memorial Service and March was held in remembrance of the fallen students at Kent State. This peaceful march was made possible by cooperation, respect, and inclusion of all parties. The success of this event reaffirmed the possibility that groups who were widely divergent in their beliefs could all have their voices heard if they talked with each other and, more importantly, listened to each other. In 2016 we are again faced with divergent groups shouting their slogans at each other, but not listening, and sometimes not even understanding their own slogans. And so the shouting gets louder, and too often results in violence. McDaniel College's example certainly isn't a panacea for all the issues troubling us today, but it does serve as a reminder that we need to listen to each other, and respect each other, and honor each other's beliefs, before we can move on.