Day #8 October 7, 2016 Talmadge, OH & Kent State U

We made it to Talmadge, OH last evening after driving 640 miles from Columbia, MO. That was a long drive but we did encounter the world's largest cross located at Effingham, IL. The cross measures 198 feet tall by 113 feet wide and was forged from 180 tons of steel. It had to be less than 200 feet tall or the FAA would have to be involved. It is best to keep the government out of religious issues.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/10913

The only other interesting thing we encountered was a stop for coffee in Ferguson, MO where Michael Brown was shot. We saw no political activity where we stopped, and it seemed to be a normal, peaceful town.

Today, Earline got to visit Kent, OH, the home of Kent State University with her two college friends. They had not been together for about 38 years and it was a great reunion. We visited the site of the Kent State shooting that occurred by the National Guard on May 4, 1970 that killed four students. The students were part of a protest against President Nixon authorizing invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War. The students were peacefully protesting when the National Guard fired upon them with 67 shots that killed four students and wounded many others. This was a terrible and unnecessary tragedy. 

Three Kent State Grads-Elaine, Earline and Barbara (left to right)

Earline's first apartment when she married Eric, a sculpture student at Kent State. Ahhh...such memories we all have. :)

Downtown Kent has changed a lot in 38 years and many of their familiar haunts are no longer there. However, it didn't stop these three friends from trying out the bars.

I did locate  "Surry with a fringe on top"

Surry with a fringe on top

Tomorrow, we are off to Pennsylvania, my place of birth.