Mary Vecchio

Zivah Solomon

Mary Vecchio was a fourteen year old runaway from Florida. She was offered housing at Kent State University in Ohio on her way across the country, as she became friends with two students who attended Kent. She was present at the shootings by the National Guard on May 4th, 1970 at Kent State. Arguably the most iconic image that represents that day is the photo taken of Mary by John Filo, as she cried out over the body of one of the slain students. She was in such pure anguish, and she knew little of the impact that would come from that photograph. Written into “Kent State: A Requiem” after a watching it for the first time, the character of Mary Vecchio is an indelible part of the experience of Kent State and what could be understood from that day.