Monday, May 21, 2012
…
Sunday, May 20, 2012
was the
- 29th Annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial
…
My mother and I were lucky enough to attend
I say lucky because while these memorials are held globally,
there are only about 2 dozen held in the US
AIDS Resource Group of Evansville’s
service at
in downtown Evansville, IN
you might remember it
St Mary’s that is
from a
It was one of the places I considered for my
post
…
This was my first Candlelight Memorial
and
if I said it was
moving
well, that would be an understatement.
…
We were blessed with some great speakers,
and even greater and more powerful music.
We were reminded of our Hoosier hero
and quite possibly America’s
maybe the world’s
greatest advocate for HIV/AIDS understanding and compassion
through both speech and song
…
you might remember this song,
written and performed by Michael Jackson
as a tribute to the life and legacy of Ryan
~it was sung at the service~
…
…
At the memorial
we were not only in a church,
but through the messages presented,
we were
taken to church.
…
I always struggle with my faith,
well, more accurately the faith in which I was raised.
I think one might be able to ascertain from a few of my posts
that are filled with religious imagery, stories, thoughts and judgments.
It is times like these,
when it comes close to home and is used for what I deem
the common good
I am reminded of why Christianity does in fact have a place in my heart.
…
But,
more importantly to why I am choosing this picture for this post,
Where I Stand
today’s candle light memorial was not about me.
It was about the celebration of the lives that have gone before me,
on whose shoulders I stand today,
writing/posting on this blog
without a great fear of retaliation,
able to show my face and state my status
in relatively great health,
simply, honestly,
without having to be brave,
with only the psychological fear that comes with having a life changing disease.
…
this picture was taken as we stepped outside the church
and where reminded
that while it is easy to light a candle and honor those who have come and gone before us
while in the safe confines of a church or community;
it is much harder to keep that candle lit
out in the world.
That is the challenge we are reminded of today
to keep that candle lit.
It is in fact
WHERE I STAND
…
Where I Stand:
~able bodied, alive, holding this candle,
in honor and remembrance of all those who have gone before me,
often unrecognized, alone, in fear
and who fought for all the blessings I am able to reap each day~
I hope I do you all proud by keeping my candle lit each day
…
one of the features of the memorial service was to read the names of those who have been in the care of ARG
and have now passed
…
I hope you take the time to listen to Gina More
taking us to church
through her music
…
Related articles
- This Sunday- 29th Annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial (queerlandia.com)
- A History of HIV & AIDS (lass.org.uk)
jamie, thank you for taking the time to write this article. you know ryan white has always had a special place in my heart. this was something special again, that you and i have done together. thank you for taking me with you. love!! mother
Very thoughtful post and it’s awesome – indeed you and your mother were lucky
yes… we are! well, maybe blessed is a better word