Peak & Prairie

Rocky Mountain Chapter's
Online Newsletter
December 1997

 

A Tribute to
John Denver, Poet for the Planet

The world lost a champion for the environment October 12 when John Denver unexpectedly passed away. As many know, he loved the beautiful land we call home so much he changed his name and became a transplanted Coloradan. He sang and spoke passionately about preserving the environment. In addition to founding the Hunger Project and the Windstar Foundation, Mr. Denver was involved in many charitable, non profit organizations.

 

Some of his accomplishments:

1972 one of the founders of The Hunger Project
1976 co-founder of The Windstar Foundation with Tom Crum
1978 served as a member of the Presidential Commission on World and Domestic Hunger
1992 founded Plant-It 2000, organization which plants indigenous trees throughout the world
1993 received the Albert Schweitzer Award, 'for a life dedicated to music and humanity'
1995 performed The Wildlife Concert which helped to benefit the Wildlife Conservation Society

 

 

 

Windstar Mourns
excerpted from the Windstar website
The Windstar family today is mourning the loss of Mr. John Denver, President and Co-Founder of the Windstar Foundation. As an entertainer of exceptional talent, he has inspired and touched the lives of millions of people of all ages in countries throughout the world.

Mr. Denver spoke for the environment before it was popular, through songs such as "Rocky Mountain High" and "Sunshine on my Shoulders." As a visionary humanitarian, he gave a voice to many--to hungry children through "I Want to Live," for peace through "Let Us Begin," for the wilderness through "To The Wild Country." He spoke to lovers with "Annie's Song," and to the future with "It's About Time." Inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 1996, his inspired lyrics and music will live for generations.

Mr. Denver's commitment to children, the environment and the future were evidenced in his many charitable and philanthropic initiatives. He established the Windstar Foundation, dedicated to inspiring responsible actions in support of a peaceful future and sustainable environment. He also was one of the founders of Plant-It 2000, dedicated to reforestation efforts, and The Hunger Project, focused on ending hunger in the world.

Hearing the news of John Denver's death, people all over the world are asking what they can do. Cheryl Charles, Chair of the Windstar Foundation Board of Trustees and President of the Windstar Land Conservancy, said, "John would want people to make their own conscious choices for ways to be involved in taking action to make the world a better place." She said further, "I urge people throughout the world to rededicate to taking action on behalf of children, the environment and peace for all. Whether you support those organizations which John founded, work with other worthy groups, or simply take action on your own, all of these efforts help to make a difference. with John Denver's death, we've lost a poet for the planet. I look for his voice to live through us all."

 

 

 

 

Music of the Heart
by Marilyn C. Hinson
(a tribute to John Denver excerpted)

editor's note: Marilyn came all the way from Atlanta,
Georgia to attend John Denver's memorial service.


We shared a kindred spirit
A oneness of the heart
He cared about this planet,
And more than did his part...

To sing about its beauty
And its fragile wilderness
His music spoke to all mankind
He will be surely missed.

Now his soul soars with the eagles
He knows no earthly bounds
His music dances with the wind
And lingers in the sounds.

Of happy children laughing
Of rivers rushing past
In the hearts of those who loved him
His legacy will last!

 

 

 

 

The Eagle and the Hawk
words by John Denver

I am the eagle,
I live in high country in rocky cathedrals that reach to the sky;
I am the hawk and there's blood on my feathers,
but time is still turning they soon will be dry.
And all those who see me and all who believe in me share in the freedom I feel when I fly.
Come dance with the west wind and touch on the mountain tops,
sail o'er the canyons and up to the stars,
And reach for the heavens and hope for the future and all that we can be and not what we are.

 

 

 

 

excerpt from
Rhymes and Reasons
by John Denver

It is here we must begin to seek the wisdom of the children
And the graceful way of flowers in the wind.
For the children and the flowers are my sisters and my brothers,
their laughter and their loveliness would clear a cloudy day.
Like the music of the mountains and the colors of the rainbow,
they're a promise for the future and a blessing for today.
and the song that I am singing is a prayer for non-believers,
Come and stand beside us,
we can find a better way.

 

 

 

 

excerpt from
What One Man Can Do
by John Denver

What one man can do is dream.
What one man can do is love.
What one man can do is change the world
and make it work again.
Here you see what one man can do.

 

 

 

In lieu of flowers, John's children have identified three charities they would be grateful for you to consider in remembering their father:

The Windstar Land Conservancy
1739 Snowmass Creek Road
Snowmass, CO 81654

The Hunger Project
15 East 26th Street
New York, NY 10010

The Cousteau Society.

For Further Information Contact:
Sherryl R. Stalinski Director of Communications The Windstar Foundation (810) 294-1390 email: info@wstar.org or Dr Hal Bidlack, Windstar Internet Coordinator, The Windstar Foundation (719) 472-0366 email: bidlack@rmi.net

 

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