INDIANAPOLIS — Gone but not forgotten.
Dozens braved the cold and snow Saturday morning to honor the lives of those lost to the AIDS epidemic.
The Indiana AIDS Memorial’s new railings were dedicated in honor of Gary "Allen" Whitehead.
Whitehead was a volunteer with the Indianapolis Bag Ladies, an organization that’s raised money for HIV/AIDS efforts for the last 40 years.
But most importantly, Coby Palmer says Whitehead was a friend.
“Allen was full of life. He was always there. The bag ladies always put on shows, drag shows. We do the AIDS walk, we’ve done the garage parties and Allen was always there. There was never a time that Allen didn’t help out," Palmer, the Founder of the Indianapolis Bag Ladies, said.
A series of limestone tablets, carved with the names of those no longer with us, stand proudly among the graves in Crown Hill National Cemetery.
For Palmer, the names represent the many loved one he’s lost.
“The names on that memorial are friends. In the very beginning, the gay community was your family because you could not be gay. You all got together and became family," Palmer said.
The Indiana AIDS Memorial was originally dedicated in 2000 and was the nation's first permanent AIDS memorial in a cemetery. It was only the second in the country.
Stephen Everett with the Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis says although HIV/AIDS is no longer considered a death sentence, there’s still a lot more work to be done in ending the epidemic.
“It’s very important to help people understand that we don’t have a cure for HIV. This is a wonderful monument to remind us that we can’t forget those we’ve lost, those that are currently living with HIV and there are many," Everett said.
Everett encourages you to get involved in their advocacy efforts.
“They can make a donation, they can learn more information, they can get involved, they can volunteer not only for us but for the many other organizations we support all across the state of Indiana," he said.
For more information, click here.
-
Pacers' Haliburton appears to aggravate lower leg injury in Game 5 of NBA Finals
Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton briefly left Game 5 of the NBA Finals for treatment after apparently aggravating an injury to his lower right leg, grabbing at it in obvious discomfort more than once.
A tale of two farms: Indiana's 2025 strawberry season
Strawberries are tiny berries, but a lot of hard work goes into producing them in Indiana. Hail can destroy berries quickly, and too much rain can destroy a crop.
Indiana School for the Deaf forced to cut 26 staff members
The Indiana Association of the Deaf states this budget crisis is forcing 26 staff members to be cut, including teachers, nurses and more.
Hudnut legacy shines as Pacers reach NBA Finals
The Pacers continued success not only celebrates the team's dedication but also honors William Hudnut's enduring legacy in the Indianapolis community.
