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Photo credit: Newsweek/Burk Uzzle
The country faced tremendous turmoil forty years ago today, but Woodstock brought together 500,000 young people on August 15-18, 1969, including one couple that was photographed among the masses. Today, Bobby and Nick Ercoline, the two hippies hugging each other under a soggy, dirty blanket in a sea of people, are still together, and the proud parents of two grown children, aged 28 and 30. The couple, now aged 60, live in the same town as they did then, Pine Bush.
Woodstock took place at a private dairy farm in a largely rural township of Bethel, near New York, and the music concert defined an era of protest and fragmentation. According to those in attendance, it was a phenominal event that marked the turbulent times. “There was no violence, just peace, love and sharing,” Bobbi told local media on the eve of Woodstock’s 40th anniversary.
The picture of Bobbi and Nick, clicked by Newsweek photographer Burk Uzzle, captured what it was like to be there — the slush and rain, the fatigue and the feeling of revolution, amid a haze of drugs. The picture made it to the cover of the `Woodstock' album, thus immortalizing the couple for generations to come.
Bobbi now works as a school nurse and Nick inspects houses of the poor earmarked for renovation by the government. They have been married for 38 years, and have raised two children. They are a testament to dedication, fidelity and endearing love.
Nick recently explained to the media about why their picture was chosen for the cover of the Woodstock album. “It’s peaceful, which was what the event was all about. It’s an honest representation of a generation. When we look at that photo, I don’t see Bobbi and me. I see our generation.”
In today’s world of excessively high divorce rates, isn’t it refreshing to see a couple that decided to stick together through thick and thin, better or worse?
Source: Daily News
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Comments
That image is certainly one that many baby-boomers can relate to. There are bound to be a lot of Woodstock attendees writing about their experiences on this 40th anniversary, but there's one that stands out. The Indypendent has a very poignant recollection of Woodstock, as well as a critique of how the music industry has betrayed the spirit of Woodstock, and I think it's worth checking out for anyone who remembered or was at Woodstock.
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