09/20/00 18:43:25
| Comments: I met Winfield once when he came stolling into my parent's little copy business back in the summer of 1989. I was eighteen years old then and this gentle little man left a huge impression on me . I remember that day vividly. There was a fairly new song playing on the radio called "Toy Soldiers" by a now washed up singer named Martika. Anyway, Win started to sing along to the radio and proceeded to explain the meaning behind the song. It seems there was a story in the previous day's paper about the song and it's young singer. I was touched by this man. I have to admit that I did have a bit of a crush on Win. I felt however that this man was very special even though I had no idea who he was. It turns out that my parents knew both Gary and Win. Thank you for your web site. In all fairness, I would love to be the person who pulls the switch on those two bloodthirsty punks who took the lives of two such beautiful men |
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| Comments: I would just like to express my condolences to the family and friends, my Grandmother was killed in a robbery in my mothers home in Redding, and we followed the this case closely and felt a great deal of empathy for these men's loved ones. Although ours as not a "hate crime" it sure felt like it to us, going through the trail was almost as painful to us as the actual loss of our beloved gram, but we did survive it and have managed to go on with our lives. Please know that my thoughts and support will be ith you as you go through this, and that while time doesn't heal all wounds, it does allow you to remember the wonderful things about your loved ones instead of the tragic end of their lives.Please accept my sympathy and understanding, sincerely, C. Willi mson |
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| Comments: Thank you for this site. I hope it prospers and grows. We need more resources in the struggle against hate motivated crime. Keep fighting the good fight. I for one will remember Gary and Winfield in the work I do for the community. Thank you for making th remembering that much easier. |
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| Comments: Kary, Thank you. This tells it like it it is. It's a hate crime and we must act. Let me know if you want more info. In the meantime, I'm trying to act. Love, Marcia |
| Comments: So many of us are devestated by this loss, this absolute insanity. My heart is heavy when I think of Gary's father, Oscar, who I never really knew but who knew my father, and who earned so much of his respect for so many years. He is my only real connecti n to this tragedy. This was his son. And this was his son's lover. Another father's son. Two mother's sons are gone. Stolen from their families, and from us, their love is now lost. Someone has tried to erase them. Completely. All points of reference have been swept away. Their poor souls must now be the wreckage we walk through in the path of our twisted thoughts. Our lives. I understand the need to see the light, to remain positive, but this is no longer one's gentle life, and this is certainly no one's peace. It has been taken away from us, by force. By hatred. By a loss of love. Again. We must know this, and remember. And ct. We cannot comprehend Oscar's grief in losing his son, Gary, especially in such a tragic chain of events. Nor can we imagine the pain felt by so many others in the loss of two wonderful people. I know this silence must be echoing endlessly for Marcia, and their daughter, Clea. No words will ever explain the hatred that took Gary and Winfield from them so suddenly. But we can hope. Such a loss of light, if we're only lucky, might force them to cr ate a brighter world in spite of it all. Let this breach of reason announce itself to so many others, however near or far. Gary and Winfield have not died in vain. And really, so what of the rest of us? Will we finally pry our eyes off the floor, will we force our mouths to speak, when next confronted by intolerance? Will we cough it out of our guts? Will we cry it into the wind? Maybe. |
| Comments: A fund has been started for Gary Matson's daughter, Clea to help her through college. Now that she doesn't have Gary & Scott to help her, any donations would be welcome. |
| Comments: first of all i would like to thank kari for putting this site up in memory of the two. scot(winfield) mowder was my uncle i have just returned from a memorial wake in their honor i wish all those who have taken the time to sign this guest book could have been there to hear all the wonderfull things about them. unfortunetly i havent seen sco or gary for many years but this was still a huge loss. scots brother and the some of the other family including my self are going to try to make people more aware by starting an organization designed to teach tolerance for all people weather it be sexual ty,race,gender,or otherwise but things cant keep going on the way they are, but sites like this and the people who signed here are a huge step in the right direction and i would like to thank you all. |
| Comments: I am at a loss for words. I understand that Gary and Win were two very nice people. It is a shame that their lives ended so suddenly because of those two jerks. Linda |
| Comments: I think your tribute is lovely. I would like to invite you, or any interested gardeners or photographers, to contribute a picture to The Gary Matson Virtual Garden. With the family's permission, we have begun collecting images of flowers and wildlife from around the globe and creating a memorial garden for Gary and Winfield, in the name of peace and tolerance. All are welcome. |
| Comments: It's so sad to hear about the victims of hatred in this world. That is why I want to make a difference. Somehow this Hate needs to stop. |
| Comments: I was/am so sorry to hear about what happened to Gary and Winfield, and so angry when things like this happen. Kari, I have seen that a site like this CAN make a difference and can reach people, as you know from seeing my website about my son Bill's suici e after he was assaulted in a hate crime. Silence is where the hate grows, and you are not being silent. I mourn with you the loss of two wonderful men who should still be with us, and I join with you in this work of love. |
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| Comments: You're sweet, Kari, to want to do something. Your choice of background is so appropriate since Gary and Win loved to grow things. Their little house looks so humble in the picture that most people wouldn't have any idea of the incredibly beautiful garde s and the huge greenhouse behind it... that's where they really lived. I am not sure what you anticipated with this web site, but if anything is going to rise from these ashes I'd like it to be a movement to counter the hate that created this tragedy. These two gentle, brillant men were loved by many and killed, it seems, because they loved each other. What kind of a world do we live in where this could happen. It is an unspeakable act and each and every one of us needs to stand against the hate and bigotry that too frequently hides in the folds of a religious cloak. Those of us who were close to Gary and Winfield are so angry and full of venom about what has happened that it frightens me. I can now see how an act like this could create a never ending cycle of hatred and violence. We could become just like them and hat is truly terrifying. Each time someone causes another person pain (economic, emotional or physical) because of their appearance or ethnic background, religious belief or lifestyle, talents or limitations, etc., we invite retaliation and violence. It's just a matter of time. I believe that intolerance plays a major part in the increase in violence across our nation. If we are to survive as a democratic society we must stop this. Every time we laugh at an ethnic or gay joke, we promote that mindset. Everytime we listen sympathetically to someones hateful and bigoted comments we promote that mindset. This doesn't mean we have to fight with these people. We can simply shake out h ads and walk away. And we can openly embrace diversity by showing genuine caring and respect for others who are different than ourselves. If there were only one thing we could do with our lives to make them productive and meaningful we could strive to be more loving. Leave judgement to God. |
| Comments: You're sweet, Kari, to want to do something. Your choice of background is so appropriate since Gary and Win loved to grow things. Their little house looks so humble in the picture that most people wouldn't have any idea of the incredibly beautiful garde s and the huge greenhouse behind it... that's where they really lived. I am not sure what you anticipated with this web site, but if anything is going to rise from these ashes I'd like it to be a movement to counter the hate that created this tragedy. These two gentle, brillant men were loved by many and killed, it seems, because they loved each other. What kind of a world do we live in where this could happen. It is an unspeakable act and each and every one of us needs to stand against the hate and bigotry that too frequently hides in the folds of a religious cloak. Those of us who were close to Gary and Winfield are so angry and full of venom about what has happened that it frightens me. I can now see how an act like this could create a never ending cycle of hatred and violence. We could become just like them and hat is truly terrifying. Each time someone causes another person pain (economic, emotional or physical) because of their appearance or ethnic background, religious belief or lifestyle, talents or limitations, etc., we invite retaliation and violence. It's just a matter of time. I believe that intolerance plays a major part in the increase in violence across our nation. If we are to survive as a democratic society we must stop this. Every time we laugh at an ethnic or gay joke, we promote that mindset. Everytime we listen sympathetically to someones hateful and bigoted comments we promote that mindset. This doesn't mean we have to fight with these people. We can simply shake out h ads and walk away. And we can openly embrace diversity by showing genuine caring and respect for others who are different than ourselves. If there were only one thing we could do with our lives to make them productive and meaningful we stive be more loving. Leave judgement to God. |
| Comments: huggers! good hp sis! keep it up! |
| Comments: It's a horrible horrible thing when humans can not live with one another. Each person has the right to live his or her life the way they feel is right for them, and others have no right to take this from them, provided it does not hurt others. |
| Comments: I am very sorry to hear about the needless loss of another Human. |
| Comments: I DIDN'T KNOW GARY AND WINFIELD PERSONALLY BUT THEY WERE DEAR FRIENDS OF MY MOTHER. SINCE I COULDN'T BE THERE TO LEND AND EAR OR A SHOULDER TO CRY ON, THIS IS MY WAY OF TRYING TO HELP EASE THE PAIN FOR HER AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO KNEW AND LOVED THEM. |
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