National Aids Memorial in San Francisco Commemorates 25 Years Of Remembrance, Healing And Hope With Ceremony Honoring Long-time Supporters

Volunteers gather for Community Volunteer Workday; Pay tribute to friends and loved ones lost to HIV/AIDS

Twenty-five years ago a small group of San Francisco residents representing a community devastated by the AIDS epidemic gathered in a dilapidated grove in Golden Gate Park to restore it and create a serene place where people seeking healing could gather to express their collective grief through a living memorial, an AIDS Memorial.

This past week, hundreds of supporters, volunteers and community leaders came together in “The Grove” to commemorate the 25th anniversary of what is now the National AIDS Memorial. A special ceremony paid tribute the original founders and honored supporters, including the City of San Francisco, who have helped in its mission to provide, in perpetuity, a place of remembrance so that the lives of people who died from AIDS are not forgotten and their stories are known by future generations.

“Twenty-five years ago our community was ravaged by AIDS and we came together here in this Grove to heal and remember our lost friends and loved ones,” said Jack Porter, a 25-year volunteer who lost his partner Stephen Marcus to AIDS and was honored with the “Heart of the Grove” award for his years of dedication and service. “Today, this memorial has evolved into a national treasure for our entire country to remember, seek comfort and ensure that we always keep their memory alive in our hearts.”

Circle of Friends: Volunteers and supporters gather in the “Circle of Friends” at the National AIDS Memorial following a special 25th anniversary commemoration event and Community Volunteer Workday to pay tribute to lost friends and loved ones to HIV/AIDS.

The 25th anniversary tribute began with hundreds of volunteers helping landscape and plant trees and shrubbery on the grounds of the memorial, followed by a ceremony in the Circle of Friends in honor of those lost to HIV/AIDS and an emotional performance by members of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. Community leaders in attendance included State Senator Mark Leno, San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener, Phil Ginsburg, General Manager, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and Christine Pelosi, former National AIDS Memorial Board member & long-time supporter.

Unveiling of Boulder: Senator Mark Leno joins Christine Pelosi; Phil Ginsburg general manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department; John Cunningham executive director of the National AIDS Memorial; Mike Shriver, chair of the board of the National AIDS Memorial; and San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener unveil a commemorative boulder at the National AIDS Memorial honoring the City of San Francisco as part of the 25th anniversary of the National AIDS Memorial.

Since 1991, nearly 25,000 volunteers have donated more than 150,000 hours participating in monthly Community Volunteer Workdays and other events to support the National AIDS Memorial. Every third Saturday from March to October, volunteers ranging from the very young to the elderly come together to help maintain the Grove, clearing overgrowth, reintroducing native species and planting new trees, plants and shrubs.

NAM 25th Anniversary Ceremony: (L to R) Christine Pelosi, State Senator Mark Leno, San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener, and John Cunningham, executive director, National AIDS Memorial.

That dedication, commitment and support set in motion passage of legislation spearheaded by U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi and signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996 making the Grove this nation’s sole federally-designated National AIDS Memorial.

HIV: The Long View Initiative Launches With Advocates Urging Actions To Address Barriers To Long-Term Health Among People Living With HIV

A Coalition of U.S. Advocates Explores Future Health Trends and Announces Calls to Action for HIV Education, Prevention and Care in New Evidence-based Report

Last week, a Coalition of leading HIV/AIDS advocacy groups and stakeholder organizations announced the launch of HIV: The Long View with the release of an evidence-based report that examines the potential implications of future healthcare trends on HIV care and management in the United States. Members of the Coalition include the American Academy of HIV Medicine, Gay Men’s Health Crisis, HealthyWomen, National Council on Aging and National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS. In the report, the Coalition recommends several key actions necessary to help improve the outlook for the long-term health of people living with HIV. Gilead Sciences is a partner and sponsor of the initiative.

“HIV is perhaps the most ruthless public health crisis the world has ever faced, and while the most immediate, life-threatening challenges have evolved in developed nations, we cannot lose sight of the fact that the epidemic continues to grow, even in well-resourced areas,” said Kelsey Louie, Chief Executive Officer, Gay Men’s Health Crisis. “If we are going to meaningfully advance HIV education, prevention, treatment and care, it will be due to multidisciplinary collaborations like HIV: The Long View that identify and strive to help work through the complex socioeconomic and healthcare factors that currently deny a long-term healthy future to many people living with and at risk for HIV.”

The report is a result of an in-depth research process collaboratively reviewed, scrutinized and translated by the HIV: The Long View Coalition to determine a potential future state of HIV healthcare in the United States over the next two decades. The method allowed the Coalition to develop corresponding calls to action to help HIV stakeholders support the long-term health and well-being of people living with and at risk for HIV, including: