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AIDS Memorial Quilt

These are photos taken over the last 24 years of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Today is World's AIDS Day. Remember their names. www.AIDSQuilt.org Living With AIDS He's big and he's proud He's abrasive and loud He can roar like a lion Or be meek as a lamb God knows he's courageous And sometimes outrageous He inspires me to be all that I can But I'll never forget The last time we met How my heart stopped at the story he told He said "Life can be hard When it deals you a card That you never expected to hold" But then he said, "It's not the end I rely on my friends For all the affection and the love they provide And maybe with hugs And without booze and drugs There is still a good chance that I will survive" And he probably will 'Cause he's active still He goes to the marches and all the parades He's not giving in He's determined to win He's a person who's living with AIDS Living with love, not living in fear Embracing the light when shadows appear It's a place to begin, it's a good way to start Releasing the power we hold in our hearts The loss of our lovers Our sisters and brothers Is a wound that cuts deep through our history of pride And one way to heal All the pain that we feel Is to stand by the living and remain unified So if you've got a friend Whose condition is grim Don't go burying him or drawing the shades Surrender your doubt By reaching out To a person whose living with AIDS Living with love, not living in fear Healing with hope and drawing them near It's a place to begin, it's a step we can take Empowering people whose lives are at stake Living with love, not living in fear Embracing the light when shadows appear It's a place to begin, it's a good way to start Releasing the power we hold in our hearts music & lyrics ©1986 Ron Romanovsky & Paul Phillips Published by Bodacious Music (ASCAP)
When people come to the Quilt they are invited to sign their names.
When people come to the Quilt they are invited to sign their names.		 Some will leave messages concerning someone they have lost to AIDS.
Some will leave messages concerning someone they have lost to AIDS.		 People will sit there and wonder what to write and soon the words will be placed on the panels.
People will sit there and wonder what to write and soon the words will be placed on the panels.		 To remember someone.
To remember someone.		 To remember their names.
To remember their names.		 At each display people will leave something.
At each display people will leave something.
Sometimes there is laughter as they remember a friend, other times tears. All are always comforted at the Quilt.
Sometimes there is laughter as they remember a friend, other times tears. All are always comforted at the Quilt.		 A Quilt Panel
A Quilt Panel		 Remembering
Remembering		 A message that was left.
A message that was left.		 And another.
And another.		 No one is alone at the Quilt, someone is always there to comfort another.
No one is alone at the Quilt, someone is always there to comfort another.
Friends
Friends		 Remembering
Remembering		 Always
Always		 Remembering
Remembering		 I spent many years as an emotional support volunteer.
I spent many years as an emotional support volunteer.		 Listening to stories.
Listening to stories.
And recording Quilt panels.
And recording Quilt panels.		 The day I saw this panel I fell to my knees. It was the bear in the mirror that got to me.
The day I saw this panel I fell to my knees. It was the bear in the mirror that got to me.		 He is listed as Patient Zero in the book And the Band Played On. He was not the first, but he made history.
He is listed as Patient Zero in the book And the Band Played On. He was not the first, but he made history.		 This is a Quilt panel I made with my synagogue many years ago on display at the Winter Garden at the original World Trade Center
This is a Quilt panel I made with my synagogue many years ago on display at the Winter Garden at the original World Trade Center		 This room is no longer as it was in those days.
This room is no longer as it was in those days.		 The Scroll of Life
The Scroll of Life
On display in NYC in 1993.
On display in NYC in 1993.		 Washington DC
Washington DC		 Washington DC.
Washington DC.		 Washington DC
Washington DC		 Leaving a message.
Leaving a message.		 Queen Helene was a lesbian who contracted HIV from too many needles. On her panel are her heroes, Divine and Marilyn Monroe.
Queen Helene was a lesbian who contracted HIV from too many needles. On her panel are her heroes, Divine and Marilyn Monroe.
Remember their names.
Remember their names.		 Every panel tells a story.
Every panel tells a story.		 This panel was made by women from the women's prison in Bedford NY. The inmates used their bedsheets to make them.
This panel was made by women from the women's prison in Bedford NY. The inmates used their bedsheets to make them.		 This panel was made by women from the women's prison in Bedford NY. The inmates used their bedsheets to make them. 40016.JPG
This panel was made by women from the women's prison in Bedford NY. The inmates used their bedsheets to make them. 40016.JPG		 A 12x12. A quilt panel is 3ftx6ft, the size of a grave. 8 of them are sewn together to make a 12x12.
A 12x12. A quilt panel is 3ftx6ft, the size of a grave. 8 of them are sewn together to make a 12x12.		 Signature Panel
Signature Panel
Signature Panel
Signature Panel		 Remembering
Remembering		 The Quilt serves so many over the last 25 years.
The Quilt serves so many over the last 25 years.		 It permitted people their opportunity to grieve openly.
It permitted people their opportunity to grieve openly.		 The Quilt humanized the AIDS crisis by giving a face to those who passed away.
The Quilt humanized the AIDS crisis by giving a face to those who passed away.		 This man could not attend his partner's funeral. He was kept away. All he could do was make a panel and bring it to the Quilt.
This man could not attend his partner's funeral. He was kept away. All he could do was make a panel and bring it to the Quilt.
Many will bring the panels to the Quilt displays to give them to the NAMES Project.
Many will bring the panels to the Quilt displays to give them to the NAMES Project.		 Quilt displays bring many people together.
Quilt displays bring many people together.		 Many who sit down and read panels that strike them
Many who sit down and read panels that strike them		 The 12x12's are put together and displayed
The 12x12's are put together and displayed		 4 12x12 blocks make up a 24x24.
4 12x12 blocks make up a 24x24.		 AIDS Memorial Quilt
AIDS Memorial Quilt
AIDS Memorial Quilt
AIDS Memorial Quilt		 We know how we can curtail the spread of HIV.
We know how we can curtail the spread of HIV.		 Education is the key.
Education is the key.		 We can also heal AIDS by caring.
We can also heal AIDS by caring.		 Stopping the hate and the discrimination that still exists 30 years into this crisis.
Stopping the hate and the discrimination that still exists 30 years into this crisis.		 Everyone can learn.
Everyone can learn.
Everyone can remember.
Everyone can remember.		 HIV does not know the sexual orientation of its host. It does not care.
HIV does not know the sexual orientation of its host. It does not care.		 But if we remember.
But if we remember.		 If we teach our children.
If we teach our children.		 If we make panels.
If we make panels.		 If we remember and use the Quilt to educate.
If we remember and use the Quilt to educate.
We can heal this crisis.
We can heal this crisis.		 We can curtail new infections.
We can curtail new infections.		 We can remember the deceased.
We can remember the deceased.		 We can fight for the living and end this crisis.
We can fight for the living and end this crisis.		 But we must always remember.
But we must always remember.

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John Shannonhouse 01-Dec-2011 17:36
I remember the first time this came to Washington DC. I remember at one point everyone needed to reorient the quilts, and the movement was done in unison and somehow seemed so beautiful. I have lost many friends to AIDS, Chason Gaver. Ray Villa, Rudi "Dori" Tadena. Many others. The quilt has had even a bigger impact than the Vietnam memorial for much the same reason. It is very personal. It is not a list of numbers, but a list of people.
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