Fans of former Beatle John Lennon are paying tribute to the musician Thursday, the 25th anniversary of his murder.
In Liverpool, England, people have created a shrine of flowers and candles beneath a statue of their hometown hero. A brief memorial service was held in the morning, with more services set to take place in other cities later in the day.
In New York, fans have begun to gather for a vigil in Strawberry Fields, part of Central Park named for one of Lennon's songs when he was still playing with the Beatles. Lennon lived across the street in his later years, and it was outside his apartment building that, in 1980, he was shot by a deranged fan.
Fans today expressed hope that the pacifist message of such Lennon songs as "Imagine" and "Give Peace a Chance" will be remembered.
Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.