The Girl in the Photo: Kent State, Ohio - May 4, 1970

The Girl in the Kent State Photo

Washington Post Magazine - April 25, 2021

This weekend's cover of the Washington Post Magazine, carried the iconic photo at Kent State, Ohio on May 4, 1970.

“That picture hijacked my life. 

And 50 years later, I still haven’t really moved on.”

 Mary Ann Vecchio - Today

The article by Patricia McCormick explores what happened to the 14-year-old Mary Ann Vecchio kneeling next to the dead body of Jeffrey Miller. How Mary Ann Vecchio has carried the burden of being a national symbol.

 

The photo taken by student photographer John Filo, captured the moment and was published across the country and around the world the following day and still continues to resonate.

Immediately after the Kent State shooting (sometimes referred to as the "Kent State Massacre") on May 4, 1970, Neil Young composed the song "Ohio" after looking at photos appearing in Life magazine and then taking a walk in the woods. Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young went to the studio and recorded the song which was released to radio stations shortly after the killings. Soon, the lyrics "Four dead in Ohio" became an anthem to a generation. In some parts of the country, the song was banned from playlists because of it's "anti-war" and "anti-Nixon" sentiments. 

 

Probably one of the greatest oddities of the interview with Mary Ann Vecchio is that she was not asked about the shirt that she was wearing at the time in the iconic photo.

"SLAVE" Shirt

Now why would a runaway 14-year-old girl be wearing a shirt with the word "SLAVE"? Would not that be a valid question to ask?  Might someone have made the shirt and given to her to wear on this day?  And who might that have been?

 

Fence post cropped out (L) & with fence post (R)

 

"It's still hard to believe I had to write this song. It's ironic that I capitalized on the death of these American students. Probably the most important lesson ever learned at an American place of learning.

David Crosby cried after this take."

from liner notes of the Neil Young's Decade album

"Ohio" 45 Atlantic Records Single (w/ "Find The Cost of Freedom")
by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - May 1970

Last year, we posted our annual remembrance on 50 Years Later: "Ohio", Kent State & Tin Soldiers Still Marching . 

 

Jeffrey Miller - Age: 20

Shot @ 90 Yards From National Guard

 

 

This year, we will once again post on the four dead in Ohio.

 

Our annual tradition will continue until the tin soldiers stop cutting down students ...

May The FOUR Be With You

 #MayThe4thBeWithYou

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