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John died in the Ocean off Pacific Grove, California.
Every year in October John Denver fans gather on the beach to
remember him.They light candles around a piece of driftwood that bears his name and sing his songs. A
piece of the John Denver Memorial Peace Cloth is laid across the beach.
In October 2000 I was lucky enough to go the the memorial.
I was amazed when I found my piece of cloth in the peace cloth, especially as only a quarter of it was at Pacific Grove. Mine
is the beige material with a flower pattern, top centre. It is a left over piece of material from the curtains I had in my
bedroom as a child. When my mother died I found she has kept it all of these years! I wanted to send something that was very
special to me and this seemed appropriate, especially as Mum was a JD fan too.
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| Driftwood memorial |
While I was in Pacific Grove, I was struck by the incredible beauty of the area. The ocean around
the coastline of the Monterey peninsular is a national marine sanctury. I couldn't help but think what an appropriate place
this was for John to die.
In the midst of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It is one
of the modern wonders of the world and houses, among other things, a four storey kelp forest. A lot of important research
into marine environments, particularly those of the deep ocean, is done here.
For though we are strangers in your
silent world
To live on the land we must learn from the sea
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