We will always remember and never forget

I spent several Saturday mornings in the middle of June on the Capital steps in Lansing, MI over the years saying those words...

We will always remember and never forget and then a list of names...regular ordinary names like John, Sally, Tom, Helen, Carlos, LaKeisha, etc. I spent time reading names of people I had never met and because their life had been claimed by HIV/AIDS, I never would. People who had families, friends, jobs and hobbies just like you and I. People who could have been and in some way are you and I.

Today, we honor and remember them. We pray for a cure. We work for more education, better funding and larger awareness of this global pandemic that knows no race, creed or orientation.

Today I remember you. I honor you. I pray that this would be the last year I have to do so. I commit that I will never forget. I promise to tell others about you.