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Yoko Ono Continues her Peace Mission in Lennon?s Memory

Former Beatle?s legend, John Lennon, would have been 66 years old this year if he hadn?t been gunned down outside his New York City apartment by crazed assassin, Mark David Chapman in December 1980. Ever since his death, Lennon?s widow, Yoko Ono has been campaigning for world peace ? a message that was pushed by her husband in his songs in his later years, with the most popular being, ?Imagine?.

In a ceremony to mark Lennon?s 66th birthday, Yoko Ono presented awards to two global organizations in honor of their commitment to world peace, truth and human rights. In a simple, private ceremony in Iceland?s capital, Reykjavik, Yoko Ono awarded $50,000 each to Doctors Without Borders (an international medical humanitarian organization) and the Center for Constitutional Rights (a non-profit legal and educational organization dedicated to protecting and advancing basic human rights). The award was given in the name of the Lennon Ono Grant for Peace.

Yoko Ono was also present in Reykjavik for the opening ceremony of her long envisioned Peace Tower, which, she hopes, will serve as a beacon of light to people of all nationalities, religion, color and creed. John Lennon and Ono shared a vision for a peaceful world since their love affair began in 1968. The couple was particularly active in social protests against the Vietnam War and their song, ?Give Peace a Chance? became the international anthem for the Peace Movement. The couple had one son, Sean, together.