THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 21, 1994 TAG: 9408180255
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
In August of 1969, it was a promise of three days of art and music. Max Yasgur opened his farm in upstate New York to 500,000 people.
Now, 25 years later, the legend lives on. Woodstock defined a generation. Young people spent the '60s preaching love and understanding. The festival was the proving grounds for the philosophy. If a half million people could live together in harmony for three days in the mud, couldn't the people in power see that war was not the answer?
Chris Campbell of Kill Devil Hills was part of that 1969 multitude. He was on the cusp of adulthood, and three days on his own would secure the transition. Chris packed his sleeping bag, a pair of shorts, a hat and leather jacket for the 350-mile trip from Conneaut Lake, Pa., to Bethel, N.Y. Campbell also packed hope. Hope that indeed the world could be a better place. Campbell, 42, owned and operated the Mex-Econo for seven years. He now works as a carpenter and a cook.
Here's how he remembers Woodstock: ``My parents told me I couldn't go. I knew I had to. I was 18 and had never been away from home. The trip was about 350 miles. It took me 12 hours to hitchhike there. Once I got to the site, it was about a 10-mile walk to the festival grounds.
``I found a spot under a tree. There were people everywhere. I was immediately struck by the kindness and gentleness of the people. There was a real sense of brotherhood. I wish I could give you something exciting to write. Like I was Wavy Gravy's bodyguard or I carried Jimi Hendrix's guitar but mainly I was there to enjoy my newfound sense of freedom.'' by CNB