Remembering John Lennon at memorials in New York, Hollywood, Liverpool, Japan and Cuba (Slideshow)

Twenty-nine years to the day after John Lennon was so tragically murdered in New York City and Lennon's popularity is still as big as ever. December 8, 1980 seems like such a long time ago, yet for Beatles and John Lennon fans, time has still not healed the wounds.

To comfort the sadness and keep his spirit alive, memorials to John Lennon have been created all over the world in the years since his death. Most famous is the 2-1/2 acre section of Central Park that was renamed "Strawberry Fields" in honor of one of Lennon's most famous Beatles songs.

Located across from the Dakota, the Upper West side apartment building in New York City where Lennon lived with his wife, Yoko Ono, Strawberry Fields was unveiled on October 9, 1985, partially funded by Ono. A mosaic with the word "Imagine" inscripted in the middle was placed as the centerpiece and draws hundreds of fans each year gathering to remember Lennon's birthday on October 9 as well as mourn his death on December 8.

(See slideshow below of John Lennon landmarks around the world)

In Hollywood, John Lennon received a posthumous star on the Walk of Fame on September 30, 1988. Yoko Ono attended the star unveiling ceremony. The star is located in front of the Capitol Records building on Vine Street near the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard. The star serves as a gathering place for West Coast fans also on Lennon's birthday and the anniversary of his death. In 2009, the late George Harrison received a star, located right near Lennon's star.

On October 9, 2000, the John Lennon Museum was opened in Saitama, Japan, on the outskirts of Tokyo. Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, was heavily involved in the creation of the museum, lending several personal artifacts from Lennon's life and career. A native of Japan, Ono wanted to offer Japanese Beatles and Lennon fans a special place to remember him. Last year, Ono performed at the John Lennon Super Live 2008 concert at Nippon Budokan on December 8, 2008 in Tokyo.

On December 8, 2000, a statue of John Lennon by Cuban sculptor Jose Villa was dedicated in a park in the Vedado neighborhood of Havana, Cuba. The statue was unveiled by President Fidel Castro and singer Silvio Rodriguez. The statue shows John Lennon wearing his trademark eyeglasses sitting on a park bench.

And finally, in 2002, the main airport in Liverpool, England, John Lennon and The Beatles' hometown, was renamed the Liverpool John Lennon Airport. John Lennon's childhood home, named Mendips, was opened to the public in 2003. The house was purchased by Yoko Ono in 2002 and she donated it to Britain's National Trust to be preserved as a national landmark.

While some criticize Ono for over-commercializing Lennon's image over the years, she has succeeded in keeping Lennon's music and message of peace alive by lending his name and songs to various charities and non-profit campaigns.

The most recent is the Imagine There's No Hunger campaign sponsored by Hard Rock Cafe and the World Hunger Year (WHY), a leader in the fight against hunger and poverty around the world. Using Lennon's song "Imagine", the Imagine There's No Hunger campaign directly helps eight community-based grassroots organizations around the world, such as the Pattanarak Foundation in Thailand, Yéle Haiti in Haiti, and the Pathfinder Academy in Kitale, Kenya. Hard Rock is offering an exclusive Imagine Pin as well as pink Imagine bracelets with proceeds going directly to WHY.

Related articles:

John Lennon and Yoko Ono's honeymoon for peace

Hollywood Walk of Fame honors George Harrison

Sneak preview of Give Peace A Chance exhibit to be held May 12 in New York City

Related websites:

Daytrippin' Beatles news magazine

John Lennon page on Rolling Stone.com

John Lennon page on Biography.com

John Lennon's history with The Beatles