Golden Gate Park
Truckloads of dirt and debris have been removed to restore the historic horseshoe pits at Golden Gate Park. Just 9 months ago, Brandon Lee Evans was enjoying some music at the Pits on Thanksgiving weekend. He had spoken to his mother just hours before on the phone, telling her he was going with some friends to listen to some musicians in the park. Within hours of that phone call, Brandon’s mother was answering the door in the middle of the night, being informed by a detective that her 20 year old son had been killed at the park.
A senseless murder has inspired those who knew Brandon and even those who never met him to reclaim a part of their city. The work of Peter Zepponi, founder of the San Francisco Horseshoe Pitching Club (www.sfhorseshoepitching.com), in conjunction with The Guardsmen (www.guardsmen.org) and numerous volunteers sums it up when he says, “I couldn’t stand the thought that the last legacy of the place that brought joy to so many had become known as the place ‘where the kid got killed’.” Zepponi decided he wanted to “find good in the tragedy”, and so he decided to take this tragic event and use it to motivate himself and others to take back their city. While Brandon had only lived in San Francisco just 3 short weeks before his death, Zepponi stated that “Brandon is like that pebble and his last moments with us are reverberating to create a lot of good. His life was not given in vain. His life has meaning beyond his death in that he has inspired many, many people to step up, become involved, and give of themselves to make San Francisco a better place where all of our children can be safe.”
So, the next time you are pitching horseshoes, at Golden Gate Park, think of how the horseshoe is not only a symbol of good luck, but a reminder that we can make a difference in this short life. Don’t sit back and be complacent, waiting for others to make change for you. Brandon always stood up for what he believed in and you should too. Inspire others to achieve great things! It takes one person at a time. And remember, you may not always be successful in your endeavors, but sometimes, it’s close enough for horseshoes!
