Originally published on May 19, 2021 6:18 pm
One of the most iconic photos in American history was taken 51 years ago on May 4, 1970.
It was the day when armed National Guard troops were called to confront unarmed college students at a peaceful anti-Vietnam War protest at Kent State University in Ohio.
Over 13 seconds, they fired 67 shots, grievously injuring nine students and killing four, including 20-year-old Jeffrey Miller.
Kneeling over Jeffrey Miller in that unforgettable photograph sometimes referred to as the Kent State Pietà is 14-year-old runaway Mary Ann Vecchio, her arms extended in anguish as he dies.
Jeffrey Miller’s brother, Russ Miller, can’t escape the picture, taken by John Filo, that freezes his brother in time. But recently, a new photograph that he has never seen before brought him joy.