They met in Santa Barbara in the early 1980’s and fell in love

Gary LeGrand and David Wiles both liked living along the coast in California.  They met in Santa Barbara in the early 1980’s and fell in love.  Gary and David were two of the most wonderful guys you could ever meet, ever! They enjoyed many things together.  They loved their dogs, Butch, Sammy Froda, Toby, and Gonzo.  They treated them more like their kids.  They liked good music, the outdoors, good food, and good friends.  No one is guaranteed happiness, life just gives each person time and space.  It’s up to us to fill it with joy.  Gary and David were very successful in doing just that.

These powerful words are from a letter from Larry Lewis, who made a Quilt panel in honor of his friends Gary LeGrand and David Wiles, who died of AIDS-related complications.

This letter, along with other materials are part of the AIDS Memorial Quilt’s archival collections that now rest within the prestigious American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. 

This archival collection currently totals more than 200,000 items. It includes biographical records, correspondence, photographs, tributes, epitaphs, news clippings and artifacts submitted by panel makers that add context about the lives memorialized on The Quilt panels. 

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