On Wednesday, December 1, Key West will join communities across the country and throughout the world to commemorate World AIDS Day. A candlelight march and reading of 1,097 names of individuals with Key West ties whose lives were cut short by AIDS will precede a dedication ceremony at the AIDS Memorial at Higgs Beach.

The candlelight march will step off at 5 p.m. from Glynn Archer School at the corner of White and United. Names of those individuals who are on tile panels at the Memorial will be read. A brief dedication ceremony will commence around 5:30 p.m. Musical selections will be provided by Kelly Hedges, Frank Wood, Scott Zimmerman and the “Swing Low” quartet (Laurie Breakwell, Fran Edge, Maj Johnson and Heather Carruthers). The program will also include speakers and the reading of additional names to be dedicated.

The theme of this year’s local commemoration is “Women, Girls, HIV and AIDS”. The public is invited to attend the candlelight march and ceremony, as well as participate in the reading of the names. Those wishing to read names may call Michael Epting at 296-3018 or email him at me233040@aol.com. Ushers will be available at the event to assist in locating individual names on the Memorial.

The following names will be dedicated at this year’s ceremony: Robert L. Anderson, Sidney L. Arnold, Randall W. Avila, Thomas Beranek, Don Bosserman, David Cacciamani, Loren Lee Capek, Carlos Collazo-Diaz, Daniel Delli Colli, Kevin Conrow, Frank E. Cummings, Stephen Doherty, Jackie Fox Jr., James Earl Horn, Gregory Steven King, Jesse Lee, Sergio Londono, Jeanette Maduro, Leslie Mayberry, Scott A. Rickard, Roy Sanders, and H. Scott Walton.

The AIDS Memorial is a Key West city park, but was created and is maintained and supported with private funds through the Friends of the Key West Memorial, an all- volunteer non-profit organization. Anyone wishing to nominate a friend who has died for inclusion on the Memorial, to join the Friends of the AIDS Memorial, make a donation or obtain other information may call Brooks White at 294-4411.

The Friends of the AIDS Memorial wish to thank all who have given to provide for a new irrigation system at the Memorial, as well as for new landscaping and ongoing maintenance. Special thanks goes to John Evans and Guy Ross, Mike Dively, Matt Helmerich, Island House, Rudy Marn, Terrence McNally, and Jeff Overby.

The AIDS Memorial website is http://www.cyberconch.com/aidskw. The online memorial contains photos of the White Street tiles and supports “web quilts” whereby friends and family may contribute photos and other tributes for display on the Internet.