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Subject: Peoria Memorial Boulder Author: Kelly [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 06/ 6/09 8:24am Was anyone else surprised to read in the newsletter that there was going to be a fan poll to choose the lyrics for the boulder? I'm pretty sure I read Hugh Higgins quoted as saying he and his group wanted to ask Dan's family to choose the lyrics. I thought that was very appropriate and respectful. I suppose letting all the fans get involved in choosing the lyrics could bring more attention and more funds, but I still think Dan's family should be asked. If they don't have a preference, then the Peoria group could choose the lyrics that they feel best honors Dan's memory. They're the ones who came up with the idea and worked to get it approved. I'm sure they've already put a lot of thought into it, and would choose something appropriate and meaningful to them. Afterall, it's their town, and Dan was their hometown boy. Besides, if they let all the fans vote, they'll probably end up with Longer. What do you folks think? The newsletter also made it sound like there would be more than one set of lyrics. So, maybe they decided to let the fans choose one, and the family or Peoria group would choose the other. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Subject: Re: Peoria Memorial Boulder Author: Mary [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 06/ 6/09 11:36am Please not "Longer." There are so many wonderful lyrics that could be put on that boulder, but I think the logical choice would be "Leader of the Band." It's recognizable to people who were not as involved in Dan's music, and it generated a lot of publicity in the Peoria area. "Illinois" may have some good lines in it, but few will recognize the song. "The River" is not necessarily all that complimentary of growing up in Illinois, "Another Old Lang Syne" is too bittersweet and just doesn't make sense on a memorial. But years from now, reading "I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band," will seem like a good memorial even to those who have no clue who DF is. Maybe the future generation will go google him and learn something. Letting fans choose is too risky. But who knows? What's written on John Denver's memorial boulder? And how was it chosen? [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> Subject: John Denver Sanctuary Author: Diney Boo [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 06/ 6/09 1:10pm John Denver Sanctuary is located along a stream in Aspen, Colorado. I googled and found this... "Locate the John Denver Sanctuary on a map. The Santuary can be found near Rio Grande Park in Aspen, Colorado. It is located near the Roaring Fork river. The address of the Sanctuary is 130 S. Galena Street, Aspen, CO 81611; the phone number is (970) 920-6010. Step 2View the Memorial Stone. It's inscribed "I am a song, I live to be sung, I sing with all my heart." Underneath it says: "John Denver, Composer, Musician, Father, Son, Brother, Friend. December 31, 1943-October 12, 1997." Step 3Note the stones in the Sanctuary that reflect John Denver's songs. The lyrics are carved into each stone. Some of the songs include "Poems, Prayers and Promises," "Annie's Song," and "Perhaps Love." Step 4View the boulder garden, with boulders set in a circle to represent the circle of life and a pattern of John Denver's music. Step 5Record the beauty of the John Denver Sanctuary by taking pictures or recording video. The Maroon Bells mountains in the background make a beautiful picture as well as the Roaring Fork river. Many people also take pictures of the boulders with the lyrics." and another... "In the John Denver Sanctuary, rolling grassy mounds contain huge granite rocks. Step closer and you see that carved on the rocks are the lyrics of some of John Denver's best-loved songs. If you are a John Denver fan, the Sanctuary is an incredibly moving place. Even if you don't know or care for his music, it still has a beautiful serenity about it." I found photos on a Trip Advisor site listed under the John Denver Sanctuary. I hope the above information is somewhat helpful. We had "Annie's Song" played at our wedding, as one of the songs as guests were seated. It was very moving to view that particular boulder, as it had wonderful memories for us attached to it. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> Subject: Re: John Denver Sanctuary Author: Mary [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 06/ 7/09 6:23pm So, more than one boulder. That's how you get the lyrics to more than one song. Do you think the city of Peoria is going to do something this elaborate? I found a youtube video tour of the John Denver Sanctuary that's actually very good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzGPdxIFzGU [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> Subject: Re: John Denver Sanctuary Author: terra [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 06/10/09 8:02am I've been to Aspen many times but I've never been to see this. We actually tried last year, but so many streets in the area were closed due to repairs and construction that we blew it off. Maybe this will be the year... [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> Subject: Re: John Denver Sanctuary & Fan Gatherings Author: Kelly [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 06/15/09 6:21am Diney, thanks for the info, and Mary, thanks for the video link. The John Denver sanctuary looks really nice. Must be about a dozen boulders there, and the surrounding area is beautiful. I was reading about the gatherings they have there and around Aspen every year in October. Apparently hundreds of fans gather for a week-long series of celebrations, including picnics and sing-a-longs at the sanctuary, and campfires, hikes, tribute concerts and other events around Aspen. Some of John’s friends and colleagues also participate sometimes. It all sounds like a really nice way to remember him and keep his music and ideals alive. Does anyone think Dan fans could ever pull together and create annual celebrations like that? Over the years that I've been online, the DF fan community has become kind of segmented and distant, for lots of different reasons, I suppose. And then Dan’s passing brought a lot more fans to the internet, but it’s still only pockets of fans in various places online. There’s no main online gathering spot. Though, since Jean has embraced the fans through the website and newsletters, there is at least a little more feeling of connectedness. The tribute concerts that have taken place were well attended, I believe, but they were one-time events scattered in different places. And I don’t think they were anything like the John Denver fan gatherings. I wonder if there would be enough interest among Dan fans. Maybe someone with a lot of enthusiasm and good intentions and leadership skills could rally folks together. Of course, we’d also need a good location. A fan I met through youtube asked me a while back what I thought about the idea of a fan gathering on Deer Isle. She was just putting the idea out there, and asking around. Never heard what kind of response she got from others, but at the time, I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea or not. Deer Isle seems like the ideal place to remember and celebrate Dan’s life, but I’m not so sure that Jean or the island community would embrace something like that. But, you never know. Maybe it could work. Any thoughts? Kelly [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> Subject: Re: Peoria Memorial Boulder Author: Captured Angel [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 06/ 7/09 6:31pm Perhaps the Fogelberg family is selecting a particular, favorite lyric to be placed on a separate boulder?? Or in a special, separate spot on one boulder?? Just speculating... I think the idea is a lovely one to commemorate Dan's legacy. Which makes me wonder if something similar is being considered in both Pagosa Springs and Maine?? It just seems like Dan left an indelible impression on the places that he loved and lived. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> Subject: Re: Peoria Memorial Boulder Author: Kelly [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 06/15/09 6:52am Yeah, I think that would be nice -- to have Dan’s family choose something special to them, and if there is additional space, and they wanted to get fans involved, we could vote for our favorite verse from other songs. And if they ever do create some sort of tribute in Pagosa Springs or Deer Isle, if it involves lyrics, there would be a lot of obvious choices for both of those places. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]