John Lennon's 70th celebrated in Central Park
By Associated Press
Oct 9, 2010 9:19 AM CDT
FILE - This undated file photo shows John Lennon. It's hard to imagine which event sounds more implausible: John Lennon's 70th birthday, Saturday Oct. 9, 1940; or the 30th anniversary of his murder - Dec. 8, 1980. (AP Photo, file)   (Associated Press)

Beatles fans worldwide are coming together to celebrate John Lennon's 70th birthday.

On the day when the Liverpool Lad would have become a septuagenarian, fans will visit Central Park's tranquil Strawberry Fields and attend a nearby benefit concert in Manhattan.

The memorial to the slain ex-Beatle and peace activist includes a mosaic donated by the city of Naples, Italy. A plaque lists 121 countries that endorse Strawberry Fields as a Garden of Peace.

The 2.5-acre (1-hectare) site is named after the Lennon song, "Strawberry Fields Forever," which observes that "living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see."

The birthday celebration got started on Friday in England, where Google UK released a video "doodle" to a Lennon soundtrack.

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Online:

http://www.centralpark.com/pages/attractions/strawberry-fields.html