AIDS victims remembered

Monday, May 18, 1998 | 9:44 a.m.

Nearly 100 people gathered at Valerie Pida Plaza at UNLV Sunday evening to remember those of the local community who have lost their lives to AIDS.

"We're here to remember and to say that we'll always remember," said Sarah Serna, an Episcopalian priest and founder of Lighthouse Compassionate Care, (formally known as Lighthouse AIDS Ministry).

The event, sponsored by the Clark County Coalition of AIDS Service Providers and hosted by the UNLV Campus Committee on AIDS, was part of the 15th annual International Candlelight Memorial that takes place in more than 400 cities.

Kay Velardo, chairwoman of the Clark County Coalition of AIDS Service Providers, said the memorial originally started as a political event to protest the lack of response from the government in dealing with AIDS.

"It's different all over the world. Some have a march, some have a protest. Ours is a subdued memorial," Velardo said.

The theme for this year, "Rekindle the flame; renew the fight for a global end to AIDS," was a focus on the fact that AIDS still takes its toll in the Las Vegas community despite improvements due to new medication and treatments.

Ronald Lawrence, executive director of the Community Counseling Center, told the crowd that the death rate for HIV AIDS in America has dropped 70 percent, but that it doesn't mean people can forget.

Names of those in the Las Vegas area who have died of AIDS -- 723 names were submitted -- were read as the crowd walked in a candlelight procession through the campus mall to the Rod Lee Bigelow Health and Sciences building, where a new Las Vegas AIDS Memorial Garden was dedicated.

Ken Tomory, program coordinator of Aid For AIDS of Nevada, said the garden, funded through AFAN, will begin by mid-June and should be done by fall 1998.

John Belmes, a Las Vegas resident who attended the memorial, said he's lost count of all the friends that have died from AIDS, adding that every year he recognizes more names on the list.

"Oh that's what became of so and so," Belmes said, recalling his earlier thoughts as the names were read.

"It has a healing effect to come and do this," Belmes said. "One of the worst things in our culture is that we've suppressed the grieving process. We really need these."

Performances by The Las Vegas International Performing Arts Exchange Co., New Vision Theatre Co., the Gay and Lesbian Chorus, and Christ Church Episcopal Choir preceded the procession.