John Lennon Monument: Liverpool

Lennon may have died tragically young, but he achieved a phenomenal amount in his 40 years.
The music, of course, was magical, but he also left another lasting legacy – a legacy of peace and anti-war campaigning. To many, John Lennon was a man of many contradictions – while he, himself, certainly never claimed to be a saint. He was, though, a man with an unshakeable faith in humanity and a man who didn’t just sing about, but stood up and campaigned for peace. It is, therefore, only right and fitting that a peace monument dedicated to his memory is to be built – and it is only right and fitting that Liverpool will be its home.

Commissioned by the California-based organisation Global Peace Initiative and to be created by American artist Lauren Voiers, the 18ft metal monument is due to be unveiled by Lennon’s son, Julian, this October. We don’t yet know where it will be situated – although the bigger question, perhaps, is what, exactly, will it look like? So while we welcome the news, it would, therefore, perhaps be wise to also cross our fingers at the same time – in the hope that the finished work will do the great man justice! Sadly, although the monument aims to celebrate Lennon’s message of peace – as well as the man, himself – there will, no doubt, be some who will pour scorn on “yet another Beatles landmark”. But we should actually be doing more to celebrate the four lads who shook the world – and certainly be doing more to spread the message of peace.