February,1995
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Sewn with Sorrow, Shown with Hope,
The AIDS Quilt Comes to Central
By Marcella Lawson
"These panels are created in sorrow. There is hope sewn into each one, hope that those who view it will be moved to act," said a founder of the of the AIDS Memorial Quilt Project.
Bridgeport had the distinction of being one of twelve districts nationwide to participate in the Quilt project. Central High School displayed the quilt in the school library the week of November 29 through December 2. The quilt serves as an educational memorial and provided a poignant backdrop for speeches given by health officials and people infected with the AIDS virus.
The speakers were engaging, moving, and frank. "Hi I'm Walt. I have AIDS," said one speaker as he began his discussion with students about mistakes he made which led to HIV infection. Wes, another speaker living with HIV, told the students, "I envy you. How I wish I had the chance you have to make better decisions than I did with my life."
Students responded to the openness of the speakers by being attentive, respectful, and inquisitive. Many students wore red ribbons in solidarity with those who have perished or are suffering from the disease. The students questioned the speakers living with HIV about their feelings, their families, and their sexual practices. Some students hugged the speakers at the conclusion of their talks. Many also participated in creating Central's own quilt by writing their thoughts about AIDS on a large white sheet.
"I went up to Wes to shake his hand and tell him I thought he had a lot of courage and I started to cry," said senior Melissa Kratky.
Having the speakers interact with students underscored the fact AIDS is a big part of our lives. We are all affected by this terrible epidemic in one way or another. Some people are forced to deal with loved ones becoming infected. Others might simply be more conscious of their daily contacts.
Concerned people have different ways of supporting people living with AIDS. Some individuals become associated with AIDS support groups or others elect to be public speakers informing the public about this disease. Another option people choose is working in health clinics to treat infected individuals.
One group of dedicated individuals took AIDS awareness to a new level by forming the AIDS Memorial Quilt Project in 1987. Mr. Dave Gordon, a school social worker, coordinated the showing of the sixteen panels and the discussions at Central. One of the quilt's main purposes is to permanently memorialize those individuals who have succumbed to their fight with AIDS. It is composed of over 26,000 individual panels, each recording the name of the person the panel is memorializing and a design reflecting the life of each individual. There are hundreds of thousands of names from all over the world scattered throughout the quilt, and if spread out completely flat the entire quilt would span approximately fifteen football fields.
