Woodstock: Jim DeCesare

Jim DeCesare, 59, Bay Shore. Musician.

Being a 19-year-old musician, I was just looking forward to seeing all of my favorite bands in one place.

I had recently been placed on probation in Nassau County for a misdemeanor offense typical of those times. At my first meeting with my probation officer, it was explained to me that I needed his permission to travel outside of Nassau. He asked me if there would be anything illegal going on there, like drugs, because that would violate my probation. I told him that it was just a concert and I couldn’t think of any reason why there would be.

My friend and I took the bus from the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Since I had arranged with other friends who were driving up to take some extra clothing, food, camping equipment, etc., I was traveling with only the clothes on my back.

As we walked toward the site, we could hear the public address system from over a mile away, and Richie Havens began the music, singing “Freedom.” By the time we got to the site, the fence had already been trampled and no one even asked us for our tickets.

I enjoyed three days of great music, met some truly wonderful people, and had a fantastic time despite being rained on, covered in mud, and hungry most of the time. I never did meet my friends with the supplies.

I’ll never forget the sight and sound of the Army helicopters flying in needed first aid, and was struck by the irony of them helping people who supposedly had nothing but contempt for the military and everything they represented.

The following day, I had my second meeting with my probation officer. The first thing he said to me was “Woodstock, huh? No drugs, huh?” He just shook his head and smiled, and asked me if it had been worth it.

I told him that I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, which today is a better place than it would have been had Woodstock never happened.